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^^^  ^^  </_^ 


A  CALL 


TO 


THE    UNCONVERTED 


TO    TURN    AND    LIVE. 


BY    REV.    RICHARD    BAXTER, 

WHO  DIED  A.  D.   1691. 


ftEVtSKD    AND    SLIGHTLY    ABRIDGED. 


PUBLISHED    BY 

THE  AMERICAN   TRACT  SOCIETY, 

150  Nassau-street,  New-Y^ork. 

O.  Faiiihaw,  Prmttr. 


This  edition  has  been  compared  with  the  London  edition  of 
Baxter's  works,  in  twenty-three  volumes,  1830.  Some  obsolete 
tierms  and  antiquated  forms  of  expression  have  been  changed, 
ana  an  obscure  passage  at  the  beginning  of  Doctrine  3, 
with  a  few  lines  touching  points  on  which  Evangelical  Chris- 
tians differ,  omitted. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

A  Preface  lo  the  Unsanctified,  exhorting  them  to  turn  and 
live,     .........  7 

The  Text  opened,  .......         25 

Doctrine   I. — It  is  the  unchangeable  law  of   God,   that 
wicked  men  must  turn  or  die,  .  .  •  •  30 

Objection. — God  will  not  be  so  unmerciful  as  to  damn 
us — Answered.  .  .  .  .  .  .  31 

Who  are  wicked  men,  and  what  conversion  is ;   and 
how  we  may  know  whether  we  are  wicked  or  con- 
verted, .......  42 

DocT.  II. — It  U  the  promise  of  God  that  the  wicked  shall 
live,  if  they  will  but  turn,   unfeignedly  and  thoroughly 
turn,         .........         72 

Door.  III. — God  taketh  pleasure  in  men's  conversion  and 
salvation,  but  not  in  their  death  or  damnation.     He  had 
rather  they  would  turn  and  live,  than  go  on  and  die,  82 

DocT.  IV. — The   Lord  hath  confirmed  it  to  us  by  his  oath, 
That  he  has  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the  wicked,  but 
rather  that  he  turn  and  live — that  he  may  leave  man  no 
pretence  to  question  the  truth  of  it,  ...  93 

Who  is  it  then  that  takes  pleasure  in  men's  sin  and 
death? — Not  God,  nor  ministers,  nor  any  good  men,       94 
DocT.  V. — So  earnest  is  God  for  the  conversion  of  sinners, 
Uiat  he  doubleth   his  commands   and    exhortations  with 
vehemency,  "  Turv'  ye,  Turn  ye,"    ....  104 

Some  motives  to  abey  God's  call,  and  turn,      .  .        103 


4  CONTENTS. 

PAOR 

DocT.  VI. — The  Lord  condescendotli  to  reason  tho  m'ic 
with  unconverted  sinners,  and  ask  them,  \Vhy  thov  will 

die? 12d 

A  strange  disputation. — 1.  For  iha  question.     2.  The 
disputants,  .         .         .         .         •         •         .126 

AVicked  men  will  die,  or  destroy  themselves,  .  r27 

Sinners  are  certainly  unreasonable,  .  .  •        I'H 

Their  seeming  reasons  confuted,  .  •  •  135 

Qf  Ksxros. — Why  are  men  so  unreasonable,  and  loath 
to  turn,  lliat  they  will  thus  destroy  themselves? — 
Answered,  .......        1^9 

DocT.  VH. — If,  after  oil  this,  men  will  not  turn,  it  is  not 
God's  fault  that  they  are  condemned,  but  their  own,  even 
their  own  wilfulness.  They  die  because  they  will;  that 
is,  because  they  will  not  turn,     .....        165 

1.  How  unfit  the  wicked  ai-e  to  charge  God  with  their 
damnation.  It  is  not  because  God  is  unmerciful,  but 
because  they  ore  cruel  and  merciless  to  themselves,      176 

Objection. — We  cannot  convert  ourselves — Answered,  183 

2.  The  subtlety  of  Satan,  the  deceitfulness  of  sin  and 

the  folly  of  sinners  manifested,  .  .  .  183 

3.  No  wonder  if  the  wicked  would  hinder  the  conver- 
sion and  salvation  of  others,         ....       186 

4.  Man  is  the  greatest  enemy  to  himself,  •  .  187 
Man's  destruction  is  of  himself,  .  .  .  .187 
The  heinous  aggravations  of  self-destruction,  .  197 
The  concluding  exhortation,  .  .  .  .201 
Ten  Directions  for  those  who  had  rather  turn  than  die,   209 


THE    GREAT   SUCCESS   WHICH    ATTENDED    THE   CALL 
WHEN  FIRST  PUBLISHED. 

It  may  be  proper  to  prefix  an  account  of  this  book 
given  by  Mr.  Baxter  himself,  which  was  found  in  his 
study  after  his  death  in  his  own  words: 

*'  I  published  a  short  treatise  on  conversion  entitled, 
A  Call  to  the  Unconverted.  The  occasion  of  this  was 
my  converse  with  Bishop  Usher  while  I  was  at  Lon- 
don ;  who,  approving  my  method  and  directions  for 
Peace  of  Conscience,  was  importunate  with  me  to 
write  directions  suited  to  the  various  states  of  chris- 
tians, and  also  against  particular  sins.  I  reverenced 
the  man,  but  disregarded  these  persuasions,  supposing 
I  could  do  nothing  but  what  is  done  better  already  : 
but  when  he  was  dead  his  words  went  deeper  to 
my  mind,  and  I  purposed  to  obey  his  counsel ;  yet,  so 
as  that  to  the  first  sort  of  men,  the  ungodly,  I  thought 
vehement  persuasions  meeter  tlian  directions  only; 
and  so  for  such  I  published  this  little  book,  which  God 
hath  blessed  with  unexpected  success,  beyond  all  the 
rest  that  I  have  written,  except  The  Saints'  Rest.  In 
a  little  more  than  a  year  there  were  about  twenty 
thousand  of  them  printed  by  my  own  consent,  and 
about  ten  thousand  since,  besides  man}'  thousands 
by  stolen  impressions,  which  poor  men  stole  for  lucre's 
sake.  Through  God's  mercy  I  have  information  of 
almost  whole  households  converted  by  this  small  book 
which  I  set  so  light  by;  and,  as  if  all  this  in  England, 
Scotland,  and  Ireland,  were  not  mercy  enough  to  me, 
God,  since  I  was  silenced,  hath  sent  it  over  in  his  mes- 
sage to  many  beyond  the  seas  ;  for  when  Mr.  Eliot  had 

1* 


o  advertisemi:nt. 

printed  all  the  Bible  in  the  Indian  language*,  he  next 
translated  this  my  Call  to  the  Unconverted,  as  he  wrote 
to  us  here.  And  yet  God  would  make  some  farther 
use  of  it;  for  Mr.  Stoop,  the  pastor  of  the  French 
Church  in  London,  being  driven  hence  by  the  displea- 
sure of  his  superiors,  was  pleased  to  translate  it  into 
French.  I  hope  it  will  not  be  unprofitable  there  ;  nor 
in  Germany,  where  also  it  has  been  })rinted." 

It  may  be  proper  further  to  mention  Dr.  Bates'  ac- 
count of  the  author  and  of  this  useful  treatise.  In  his 
sermon  at  Mr.  Baxter's  funeral,  he  thus  says:  "  His 
books  of  practical  divinity  have  been  effectual  for 
more  conversions  of  sinners  to  God  than  any  printed 
in  our  time  ;  and  while  the  church  remains  on  earth, 
will  be  of  continual  efficacy  to  recover  lost  souls. 
There  is  a  vigorous  pulse  in  them,  that  keeps  the  read- 
er awake  and  attentive.  His  Call  to  the  Unconverted, 
how  small  in  bulk,  but  how  powerful !  Truth  speaks 
in  it  with  such  authority  and  efficacy,  that  it  makes 
the  reader  to  lay  his  hand  upon  his  heart,  and  find 
that  he  has  a  soul  and  a  conscience,  though  he  lived 
before  as  if  he  had  none.  He  told  some  friends, 
that  six  brothers  were  converted  by  reading  this 
Call;  and  that  every  week  he  received  letters  of 
some  converted  by  his  books.  This  he  spake  with 
most  humble  thankfulness,  that  God  was  pleased  to- 
use  him  as  an  instrument  for  the  salvation  of  souls." 


FROM  THE  AUTHOR'S  PREFACE. 


To  ail  unsanctijied  Persons  that  shall  read  this  book ; 
especially  of  my  hearers  in  Kidderminster. 

Men  and  Brethren, 

The  eternal  God,  that  made  you  for  a  life 
everlasting,  and  hath  redeemed  you  by  his  only 
Son,  when  you  had  lost  it  and  yourselves,  being 
mindful  of  you  in  your  sin  and  misery,  hath  in- 
dited the  Gospel,  and  sealed  it  by  his  Spirit,  and 
commanded  his  ministers  to  preach  it  to  the  world  ; 
that  pardon  being  freely  offered  you,  and  Heaven 
being  set  before  you,  he  might  call  you  off  from 
your  fleshly  pleasures,  and  from  following  after 
this  deceitful  world,  and  acquaint  you  with  the 
life  that  you  were  created  and  redeemed  for,  be- 
fore you  are  dead  and  past  remedy.  He  sendetli 
you  not  prophets  or  apostles,  that  receive  their 
message  by  immediate  revelation ;  but  yet  he 
calleth  you  by  his  ordinary  ministers,  who  are 
commissioned  by  him  to  preach  the  same  Gospel 
which  Christ  and  his  apostles  first  delivered.  The 
Lord  seeth  how  you  forget  him  and  your  latter 
end,  and  how  light  you  make  of  everlasting  things, 
as  men  that  understand  no*::  what  they  have  to  do 
or  suffer.    He  seeth  how  bold  vou  are  in  sin,  how 


8  PREFACE. 

fearless  of  his  ihreatenings,  and  how  careless  of 
your  souls,  and  how  the  works  of  infidels  are  in 
your  lives,  while  the  belief  of  christians  is  in 
your  mouths.  He  seeth  the  dreadful  day  at  hand, 
when  your  sorrows  will  begin,  and  you  must 
lament  all  this  with  fruitless  cries  in  torment  and 
desperation  :  then  the  remembrance  of  your  folly 
will  tear  your  hearts,  if  true  conversion  now 
prevent  it  not. 

In  compassion  to  your  sinful  miserable  souls, 
the  Lord,  that  better  knows  your  case  than  you 
can*  know  it,  hath  made  it  our  duty  to  speak  to 
you  in  his  name,  (2  Cor.  5  t  19,)  and  to  tell  you 
plainly  of  your  sin  and  misery,  and  what  will  be 
your  end,  and  how  sad  a  change  you  will  shortly 
see,  if  yet  you  go  on  a  little  longer.  Having 
bought  you  at  so  dear  a  rate  as  the  blood  of  his 
Son  Jesus  Christ,  and  made  you  so  free  and  gen- 
eral a  promise  of  pardon,  and  grace,  and  ever- 
lasting glory ;  he  commandeth  us  to  tender  all 
this  to  you  as  the  gift  of  God,  and  to  entreat  you 
to  consider  the  necessity  and  worth  of  what  he 
offers.  He  sees  and  pities  you,  while  you  are 
drowned  in  worldly  cares  and  pleasures,  eagerly 
following  childish  toys,  and  wasting  that  short  and 
precious  time  for  a  thing  of  nought,  in  which  you 
should  make  ready  for  an  everlasting  life ;  and 
therefore  he  hath  commanded  us  to  call  after  you 
and  tell  you  how  you  lose  your  labor  and  are 
about  to  lose  your  souls,  and  tell  you  what  great- 


PREFACE.  W 

«r  and  better  things  you  might  certainly  liave  if 
you  would  hearken  to  his  call.  Isa.  55  :  I,  2,  'J. 
We  believe  and  obey  the  voice  of  God  ;  and  conm 
to  you  on  his  message,  who  hath  charged  us  t<» 
preach,  and  be  instant  with  you  in  season  and  out 
of  season,  to  Hft  up  our  voice  hke  a  trumpet,  and 
show  you  your  transgressions  and  your  sins.  Isa. 
58  :  1 ;  2  Tim.  4:1,2. 

But,  alas!  to  the  grief  of  our  souls  and  y(jnr 
undoing,  you  stop  your  ears,  you  stiffen  your  necks, 
you  harden  your  hearts  ;  and  send  us  back  to  God 
with  groans,  to  tell  him  that  we  have  done  his 
message,  but  can  do  no  good  to  you,  nor  scarcely 
get  a  sober  hearing.  Oh !  that  our  eyes  were  as 
a  fountain  of  tears,  that  we  might  lament  our  igno- 
rant careless  people,  that  have  Christ,  and  pardon, 
and  life,  and  heaven  before  them,  and  have  not 
hearts  to  know  or  value  them  !  that  might  have 
Christ,  and  grace,  and  glory,  as  well  as  others,  if 
it  were  not  for  their  wilful  negligence  and  con- 
tempt !  O  that  the  Lord  would  till  our  hearts  with 
more  compassion  to  these  miserable  souls,  that  we 
mi^ht  cast  ourselves  even  at  their  feet,  and  follow 
them  to  their  houses,  and  speak  to  them  with  our 
bitter  tears.  For,  long  have  we  preached  to  many 
of  them  in  vain.  We  study  plainness,  to  make  them 
understand,  and  many  of  them  will  not  understand 
us ;  we  study  serious  piercing  words,  to  make 
them  Jeelf  but  they  will  not  feel.  If  the  greatest 
matters  would  work  with  them,  we  should  awake 


10  PREFACE. 

them ;  if  the  sweetest  things  would  work,  v^ 
should  entice  them  and  win  their  hearts ;  if  the 
most  dreadful  things  would  work,  we  should  at 
least  affright  them  from  their  wickedness  ;  \?  truth 
and  sincerity  would  take  with  them,  we  should 
soon  convince  them  ;  if  the  God  that  made  them, 
and  Christ  that  bought  them,  might  be  heard, 
the  case  would  soon  be  altered  with  them ;  if 
Scripture  might  be  heard,  we  should  soon  prevail ; 
if  reason,  even  the  best  and  strongest  reason, 
might  be  heard,  we  should  not  doubt  but  we 
should  speedily  convince  them  ;  \i  experience  might 
be  heard,  even  their  own  experience  and  the  ex- 
perience of  all  the  world,  the  matter  might  be 
mended ;  yea,  if  the  conscience  within  them  might 
be  heard,  the  case  would  be  better  with  them  than 
it  is.  But  if  nothing  can  be  heard,  what  then  shall 
we  do  for  them  ]  If  the  dreadful  God  of  heaven 
be  slighted,  who  then  shall  be  regarded  %  If  the 
inestimable  love  and  blood  of  a  Redeemer  be 
made  light  of,  what  then  shall  be  valued  %  If  hea- 
ven have  no  desirable  glory  with  them,  and  ever- 
lasting joys  be  nothing  worth  ;  if  they  can  jest  at 
hell,  and  dance  about  the  bottomless  pit,  and  play 
with  the  consuming  fire,  and  that  when  God  and 
man  warn  them  of  it,  what  shall  we  do  for  such 
souls  as  these  ? 

Once  more,  in  the  name  of  the  God  of  heaven 
I  shall  do  the  message  to  you  which  he  hath  com- 
manded us,  and  leave  it  in  these  standing  lines  to 


PREFACE.  11 

convert  you  or  condemn  you :  to  change  you,  or 
rise  up  in  judgment  against  you,  and  to  be  a 
witness  to  your  faces  that  once  you  had  a  serious 
call  to  turn.  Hear,  all  you  that  are  drudges  of 
the  world  and  servants  of  the  flesh  and  Satan! 
that  spend  your  days  in  looking  after  prosperity 
on  earth,  and  drown  your  conscience  in  drinking, 
and  gluttony,  and  idleness,  and  foolish  sports  ;  and 
know  your  sin,  and  yet  will  sin,  as  if  you  set  God  at 
defiance,  and  bade  him  do  his  worst  and  spare  not ! 
Hearken,  all  you  that  mind  not  God,  and  have  no 
heart  to  holy  things,  and  feel  no  savor  in  the  word 
or  worship  of  the  Lord,  or  in  the  thoughts  or  men- 
tion of  eternal  life ;  that  are  careless  of  your  im- 
mortal souls,  and  never  bestow  one  hour  in  in- 
quiring what  case  they  are  in,  whether  sanctified 
or  unsanctified,  and  whether  you  are  ready  to  ap- 
pear before  the  Lord  !  Hearken,  all  you  that,  by 
sinning  in  light,  have  sinned  yourselves  into  infi- 
delity, and  do  not  believe  the  word  of  God.  He 
that  hath  an  ear  to  hear,  let  him  hear  the  gracious 
and  yet  dreadful  call  of  God !  His  eye  is  all  the 
while  upon  you.  Your  sins  are  registered,  and 
you  shall  surely  hear  of  them  again.  God  keep- 
eth  the  book  now ;  and  he  will  write  it  upon  your 
consciences  with  his  terrors  ;  and  then  you  also 
shall  keep  it  yourselves  !  O  sinners,  that  you  but 
knew  what  you  are  doing,  and  whom  you  are  all 
this  while  offending  !  The  sun  itself  is  darkness 
before  the  glory  of  that  Majesty  which  you  daily 


12  PREFACE. 

abuse  and  carelessly  provoke.    The  sinning  angels 
were  not  able  to  stand  before  him,  but  were  cast 
down  to   be  tormented  with  devils.     And  dare 
euch  worms  as  you  so  carelessly  offend,  and  set 
yourselves  against  your  Maker  !    O  that  you  did 
but  a  little  know  what  a  case  that  viTetched  soul 
is  in,  that  hath  engaged   the  living  God  against 
him  !    The  word  of  his  mouth  that  made  thee,  can 
unmake  thee  ;  the  frown  of  his  face  will  cut  thee 
off  and  cast  thee  out  into  outer  darkness.    How 
eager  are  the  devils  to  be  doing  with  thee,  that 
have  tempted  thee,  and  do  but  wait  for  the  word 
from  God  to  take  and  use  thee  as  their  own !  and 
then  in  a  moment  thou  wilt  be  in  hell.    If  God  be 
against  thee,  all  things  are  against  thee  :  this  world 
is  but  thy  prison,  for  all  thou  so  lovest  it ;  thou  art 
but  reserved  in  it  to  the  day  of  wrath,    Job,  21  : 
30 ;  the  Judge  is  coming,  thy  soul  is  even  going. 
Yet  a  little  while,  and  thy  friend  shall  say  of  thee, 
**  He  is  dead  ;"  and  thou  shalt  see  the  things  that 
thou  now  dost  despise,  and  feel  that  which  now 
thou  wilt  not  believe.    Death  will  bring  such  an 
argument  as  thou  canst  not  answer  ;  an  argument 
that  shall  effectually  confute  thy  cavils  against  the 
word  and  ways  of  God.    And  then  how  soon  will 
thy  mind  be  changed  1    Then  be  an  unbeliever  if 
thou  canst ;  stand  then  to  all  thy  former  words, 
which  thou  wast  wont  to  utter  against  a  holy  and 
a  heavenly  life.  Make  good  that  cause  then  before 
the  Lord  which  thou  wast  wont  to  plead  against 


PREFACE.  13 

lliy  teaclierr} ;  and  against  the  people  tliat  feared 
God.  Then  stand  to  thy  old  opinions  and  con- 
temptuous thoughts  of  the  diligence  of  the  saints  : 
make  ready  now  thy  strong  reasons,  and  stand 
lip  then  before  the  Judge  and  plead  like  a  man 
for  thy  fleshly,  thy  worldly,  thy  ungodly  life. 
But  know  that  thou  wilt  have  One  to  plead  with 
that  will  not  be  outfaced  by  thee ;  nor  so  easily 
put  oiV  as  we  thy  fellow-creatures. 

O  deceived,  wretched  soul !  there  is  nothing  but 
a  slender  veil  of  flesh  between  thee  and  that  amazing 
pight,  which  will  quickly  silence  thee,  and  turn  thy 
tone,  and  make  thee  of  another  mind !  As  soon  as 
death  hath  drawn  this  curtain,  thou  shalt  see  that 
which  will  quickly  leave  thee  speechless.  And  how 
quickly  will  that  day  and  hour  come  !  When  thou 
hast  had  but  a  few  more  merry  hours,  and  but  a 
few  more  pleasant  draughts  and  morsels,  and  a 
little  more  of  the  honors  and  liches  of  the  world, 
thy  portion  will  be  spent,  and  thy  pleasures  ended, 
and  all  is  then  gone  that  thou  settest  thy  heart 
upon  :  of  all  that  thou  Boldest  thy  Savior  and  sal- 
vation for,  there  is  nothing  left  but  the  heavy 
reckoning.  As  a  thief,  that  sits  merrily  spending 
the  money  which  he  hath  stolen  in  an  alehouse, 
when  men  are  riding  in  post-haste  to  apprehend 
him,  so  is  it  with  you.  While  you  are  drowned 
in  cares  of  fleshly  pleasures,  and  making  merry 
with  your  own  bhame,  death  is  coming  in  post- 
haste to  seize  upon  you,  and  carry  your  soul  to 

B.  CaU.  2 


14  PREFACE.     . 

such  a  place  and  state  as  now  you  little  know  or 
think  of.  Suppose,  when  you  are  bold  and  busy 
in  your  sin,  that  a  messenger  were  but  coming 
post-haste  to  apprehend  you  and  take  away  your 
life  ;  though  you  saw  him  not,  yet  if  you  knew 
that  he  was  coming,  it  would  mar  your  mirth,  and 
vou  would  be  thinkinGT  of  the  haste  he  makes,  and 
hearkening  when  he  knocked  at  your  door.  O 
that  you  could  but  see  what  haste  Death  makes, 
though  he  has  not  yet  overtaken  you  !  No  post  so 
swift ;  no  messenger  more  sure.  As  sure  as  the  sun 
will  be  with  you  in  the  morning,  though  it  hath 
many  thousand  and  hundred  thousand  miles  to  go 
in  the  night,  so  sure  will  Death  be  quickly  with 
you  :  and  then  where  is  your  sport  and  pleasure  ? 
Then  will  you  jest  and  brave  it  out  1  then  will  you 
jeer  at  them  that  v/arned  you  1  Then  is  it  better 
to  be  a  believing  saint,  or  a  sensual  worldling  1 
And  then  whc^se  shall  all  these  things  be  that  you 
have  gathered]  Luke,  12  :  19-21.  Do  you  not 
observe  that  days  and  weeks  are  quickly  gone, 
and  nights  and  mornings  come  apace,  and  speedily 
succeed  each  other  ?  You  sleep,  but  your  damna- 
tion slumbereth  not ;  you  linger,  but  your  judg- 
ment this  long  time  lingereth  not,  to  which  you 
are  reser^-ed  for  punishment.  2  Pet.  2  :  3-9.  O 
that  you  were  wise  to  understand  this,  and  that 
you  did  consider  your  latter  end  !  Deut.  32  :  29. 
He  that  hath  an  ear  to  hear,  let  him  hear  the  call 
of  God  in  this  day  of  his  salvation. 


PREFACE.  15 

O  careless  sinners  !  that  you  did  but  know  the 
love  that  you  unthankfully  neglect,  and  the  pre- 
ciousness  of  the  blood  of  Christ  which  you  de- 
spise !  O  that  you  did  but  know  the  riches  of  the 
Gospel !  O  that  you  did  but  know  a  little  the 
certainty,  and  the  glory  and  blessedness  of  that 
everlasting  life,  which  now  you  will  not  set  your 
hearts  upon,  nor  be  persuaded  first  and  dili- 
gently to  seek.  Heb.  11  :  G,  and  12  :  28;  and 
Matt.  6  :  13.  Did  you  but  know  the  endless  life 
with  God  which  you  now  neglect,  how  quickly 
would  you  cast  away  your  sin,  how  quickly  would 
you  change  your  mind  and  life,  your  course  and 
company,  and  turn  the  streams  of  your  affections, 
and  lay  out  your  care  another  way  1  How  reso- 
lutely would  you  scorn  to  yield  to  such  tempta- 
tions as  now  deceive  you  and  carry  you  away  ? 
How  zealously  would  you  bestir  yourselves  for 
that  most  blessed  life  1  How  earnest  would  you 
be  with  God  in  prayer?  How  diligent  in  hear- 
ing, learning,  and  inquiring?  How  serious  in 
meditating  on  tlie  laws  of  God]  Psalm  1  :  2. 
How  fearful  of  sinning  in  thought,  word,  or  deed  1 
and  how  careful  to  please  God  and  grow  in  holi- 
ness ]  O  what  a  changed  people  you  would  be! 
And  why  should  not  the  certain  word  of  God  be 
believed  by  you,  and  prevail  with  you,  which 
openeth  to  you  these  glorious  and  eternal  things  ? 

Yea,  let  me  tell  you  that  even  here  on  earth 
you  little  know  the   difference   between  the  liie 


16  PREFACE. 

you  refuse  and  the  life  you  choose  1  The  sancti- 
fied are  conversing  with  God  -when  you  dare 
scarce  think  of  him,  and  when  you  are  conversing 
with  but  earth  and  flesh.  Their  conversation  is 
in  heaven,  when  you  are  utter  strangers  to  it  and 
your  belly  is  your  God  and  you  are  minding  earth- 
ly things.  Phil,  o  :  18-20.  They  are  seeking  after 
the  face  of  God,  when  you  seek  for  nothing  higher 
than  this  world.  They  are  busily  laying  up  for 
an  endless  life,  where  they  shall  be  equal  with 
the  angels,  Luke,  20  :  36,  when  you  are  taken  up 
with  a  shadow  and  a  transitory  thing  of  nought. 
How  low  and  base  is  your  earthly,  fleshly,  sinful 
life,  in  comparison  of  the  noble  spiritual  life  of 
true  believers  ]  Many  a  time  have  I  looked  on 
fiuch  men  with  grief  and  pity,  to  see  them  trudge 
about  the  world,  and  spend  their  lives,  and  care 
and  labor  for  notliing  but  a  little  food  and  rai- 
ment, or  a  little  fading  pelf,  or  fleshly  pleasures, 
or  empty  honors,  as  if  they  had  no  higher  thinga 
to  mind.  What  difference  is  there  between  the 
lives  of  these  men  and  of  the  beasts  that  perish, 
that  spend  their  time  in  workin^r,  and  eating,  and 
living  but  that  they  may  live  ]  They  taste  not  the 
inward  heavenly  pleasures  which  believers  taste 
and  live  upon.  I  had  rather  have  a  little  of  their 
comfort,  which  the  forethoughts  of  their  heavenly 
inheritance  afford  them,  though  I  had  all  their 
scorn  and  suffering  with  it,  than  to  have  all  your 
pleasures  and  treacherous  prosperity.     I  would 


PREFACE.  17 

not  have  one  of  your  secret  pangs  of  conscience, 
and  (lark  and  dreadful  thoughts  of  death  and  the 
life  to  come,  for  all  that  ever  the  world  hath  done 
for  you,  or  all  that  you  can  reasonably  hope  that 
it  should  do.  If  I  were  in  your  unconverted  car- 
nal state,  and  knew  but  what  I  know,  and  be- 
lieved but  what  I  now  believe,  methinks  my  life 
would  be  a  foretaste  of  hell.  How  oft  should  I 
be  thinking  of  the  teiTors  of  the  Lord,  and  of  the 
dismal  day  that  is  hastening  on !  Sure  death  and 
hell  would  be  still  before  me.  I  should  think  of 
them  by  day,  and  dream  of  them  by  niglit :  I 
should  lie  down  in  fear,  and  rise  in  fear,  and  live 
in  fear,  lest  death  should  come  before  I  were  con- 
verted. I  should  have  small  felicity  in  any  thincr 
that  I  possessed,  and  little  pleasure  in  any  com- 
pany, and  little  joy  in  any  thing  in  the  world,  as 
long  as  I  knew  myself  to  be  under  the  curse  and 
wrath  of  God.  I  should  be  still  afraid  of  hearing 
that  voice,  "  Thou  fool,  this  night  shall  thy  soul 
be  required  of  thee."  Luke,  12  :  20.  And  that 
fearful  sentence  would  be  written  upon  my  con- 
science, "  There  is  no  peace,  saith  my  God,  to  the 
wicked."    Isaiah,  48  :  22  ;  57  :  21. 

O  poor  sinners!  It  is  a  more  joyful  life  than 
this  that  you  might  live  if  you  were  but  willing, 
but  truly  willing  to  hearken  to  Christ,  and  come 
home  to  God.  You  might  then  draw  near  to  God 
with  boldness,  and  call  him  your  Father,  and  com- 
fortably trust  him  with  your  souls  and  bodies.    If 


18  PREFACE. 

you  look  upon  the  promises,  you  may  say,  They 
are  all  mine.  If  upon  the  curse,  you  may  say, 
From  this  I  am  delivered.  When  you  read  the 
law,  you  may  see  what  you  are  saved  from.  When 
you  read  the  Gospel,  you  may  see  him  that  re- 
deemed you,  and  see  the  course  of  his  love,  and 
holy  life,  and  sufferings,  and  trace  him  in  his 
temptations,  tears,  and  blood,  in  the  work  of  your 
salvation.  Yf»u  may  see  death  conquered  and 
heaven  opened,  and  your  resurrection  and  glorifi- 
cation provided  for  in  the  resurrection  and  glorifi- 
cation of  your  Lord.  If  you  look  on  the  saints, 
you  may  say.  They  are  my  brethren  and  compa- 
nions. If  on  the  unsanctified,  you  may  rejoice  to 
think  that  you  are  saved  from  that  state.  If  you 
look  upon  the  heavens,  the  sun,  and  moon,  and 
stars  innumerable,  you  may  think  and  say,  My 
Father's  face  is  infinitely  more  glorious  ;  it  is 
hif^her  matters  that  he  hath  prepared  for  his 
saints ;  yonder  is  but  the  outward  court  of  hea- 
ven. The  blessedness  that  he  hath  promised  me 
is  so  much  higher,  that  flesh  and  blood  cannot  be- 
hold it.  If  you  think  of  the  grave,  you  may  re- 
member that  the  glorified  Spirit,  a  living  Head, 
and  a  loving  Father,  have  all  so  near  a  relation  to 
your  dust,  that  it  cannot  be  forgotten  or  neglected, 
but  will  more  certainly  revive  than  the  plants  and 
flowers  in  the  spring  :  because  the  soul  is  still 
alive,  which  is  the  noot  of  the  body  ;  and  Christ  is 
alive,  which  is  the  root  of  both.  Even  death, which 


PREFACE.  IJ) 

18  the  king  of  fears,  may  be  remembered  and  en- 
tertained with  joy,  as  being  the  day  of  your  de- 
liverance from  the  remnant  of  ein  and  sorrow: 
the  day  which  you  believed,  and  hoped,  and  wait- 
ed for,  when  you  sliall  see  the  blessed  things 
which  you  had  heard  of,  and  shall  find  by  present 
joyful  experience  what  it  was  to  choose  the  bet- 
ter part,  and  to  be  a  sincere  believing  saint. 
What  say  you,  sirs  ?  Is  not  this  a  more  delightful 
life,  to  be  assured  of  salvation  and  ready  to  die, 
than  to  live  as  the  ungodly,  that  have  their  hearts 
overcharged  with  surfeiting  and  drunkenness,  and 
the  cares  of  this  life,  and  so  that  day  comes  upon 
them  unawares  1  Luke,  21  :  34,  36.  Might  you  not 
live  a  comfortable  life,  if  once  you  were  made  the 
lieirs  of  heaven,  and  sure  to  be  saved  when  you 
leave  the  world  1  O  look  about  you  then,  and 
think  what  you  do,  and  cast  not  away  such  hopes 
as  these  for  very  nothing.  The  flesh  and  the 
world  can  give  you  no  such  hopes  or  comforts. 

I  have  but  three  requests  to  you,  and  I  have 
done. 

1.  That  you  will  seriously  i"ead  over  this  small 
treatise  ;  and  if  you  have  such  as  need  it  in  your 
families,  that  you  will  read  it  over  and  over  to 
them  ;  and  if  those  that  fear  God  would  go  now 
arvd  then  to  their  ignorant  neighbors,  and  read 
liiis  or  some  other  book  to  them  on  this  subject, 
they  might  be  a  means  of  winning  souls.  If  we 
cannot  entreat  so  small  a  labor  of  men  for  tlieir 


2l>  PllEFACK, 

own  salvation  as  to  read  such  short  instrnctions 
as  these,  they  set  little  by  themselves,  and  will 
most  justly  perish. 

2.  When  you  have  read  over  this  book,  I  would 
entreat  you  to  go  alone  and  ponder  a  little  what 
y(ju  have  read,  and  bethink  you,  as  in  the  sight  of 
God,  whether  it  be  not  true,  and  do  not  nearly 
touch  your  souls,  and  whether  it  be  not  time  to 
look  about  you.  And  also  entreat  you,  that  you 
will  upon  your  knees  beseech  the  Lord  that  he 
will  open  your  eyes  to  understand  the  truth,  and 
turn  your  hearts  to  the  love  of  God,  and  beg  of 
him  all  that  saving  grace  which  you  have  so  longr 
neglected,  and  follow  it  on  from  day  to  day,  till 
your  hearts  be  changed.  And  withal,  that  you 
will  go  to  your  pastors,  (that  are  set  over  you  to 
take  care  of  the  health  and  safety  of  your  souls,  as 
physicians  do  for  the  health  of  your  bodies,)  and 
desire  them  to  direct  you  what  course  to  take, 
and  acquaint  them  with  your  spiritual  state,  that 
you  may  have  the  benefit  of  their  advice  and 
ministerial  help. 

If  you  have  not  a  faithful  pastor  at  home,  make 
use  of  some  other  in  so  great  a  need. 

o.  When,  by  reading,  consideration,  prayer, 
and  ministerial  advice,  you  are  once  acquainted 
with  your  sin  and  misery,  with  your  duty  and 
remedy,  delay  not,  but  presently  forsake  your 
sinful  company  and  courses,  and  turn  to  God  and 
obey  his  call.    As  you  love  your  souls,  take  heed 


PREFACE.  21 

t!iat  you  go  not  on  against  so  hmd  a  call  of  God, 
and  against  your  own  knowledge  anJ  conscience, 
lest  it  go  worse  with  yriu  in  the  day  of  judgment 
than  with  Sodom  and  Gomorrah.  Inquire  of  God, 
JLS  a  man  that  is  willing  to  know  the  truth,  anil 
not  be  a  wilful  cheater  of  his  soul.  Search  th<j 
holy  Scripttires  daily,  and  see  whether  ihesn 
things  be  so :  try  impartially  whether  it  be  safer 
to  trust  heaven  or  earth,  and  whether  it  be  bet- 
ter to  follow  God  or  man,  the  Spirit  or  the  flesh, 
better  to  live  in  holiness  or  sin,  and  whether  au 
unsanctified  state  be  safe  for  you  to  abide  in  one 
day  longer ;  and  when  you  have  found  out  which 
is  l>est,  resolve  accordingly,  and  make  your  choico 
without  any  more  ado.  If  you  will  be  true  lo 
your  own  souls,  and  do  not  love  everlasting  tor- 
ments, 1  beseech  you,  as  from  the  Lord,  that  you 
wiW  but  take  this  reasonable  advice.  Th(?n  at 
your  deathbed  how  boldly  might  we  comfort  and 
encourage  3'our  departing  souls  !  And  at  your 
burial,  how  comfortably  might  we  leave  you  in 
tlie  grave,  in  expectation  to  meet  your  souls  in 
heaven,  and  to  see  your  bodies  raised  to  that 
glory  ! 

But,  if  still  the  most  of  you  will  go  on  in  a  care- 
less, ignorant,  fleshly,  worldly,  or  unholy  life,  and 
all  our  desires  and  labors  cannot  so  far  prevail  as 
to  keep  you  from  the  wilful  damning  of  your- 
selves, we  must  then  imitate  our  Lor<l,  who  de- 
lighteth  himself  in  those  few  that  are  jewels,  and 


22  PREFACE 

in  a  little  flock  that  shall  receive  the  kingdom, 
when  the  most  shall  rcap  the  misery  which  they 
sowed.  In  nature,  excellent  things  are  few.  The 
world  hath  not  many  suns  or  moons  ;  it  is  but  a 
little  of  the  earth  that  is  gold  or  silver.  Princes 
and  nobles  are  but  a  small  part  of  the  sons  of 
men  :  it  is  no  great  number  that  are  learned, 
judicious,  or  wise,  here  in  this  world.  And, 
therefore,  if  the  gate  being  strait  and  very  narrow, 
there  be  but  few  that  find  salvation,  yet  God  will 
have  his  glory  and  pleasure  in  those  few.  And 
when  Christ  shall  come  with  his  mighty  angels  in 
flaming  fire,  taking  vengeance  on  them  that  know 
not  God,  and  obey  not  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  his  coming  will  be  glorified  in  his 
saints,  and  admired  in  all  true  believers.  2  Thess. 
1 :  7-10. 

And  for  the  rest,  as  God  the  Father  vouchsafed 
to  create  them,  and  God  the  Son  disdained  not  to 
bear  the  penalty  of  their  sins  upon  the  cross,  and 
did  not  judge  such  sufferings  vain,  though  he 
knew  that  by  refusing  the  sanctification  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  they  would  finally  destroy  themselves, 
so  we,  that  are  his  ministers,  though  these  be  not 
gathered,  judge  not  our  labor  wholly  lost.  See 
Isa.  49  :  5. 

Reader,  I  have  done  with  thee,  when  thou  hast 
perused  this  book ;  but  sin  hath  not  yet  done 
with  thee,  even  those  that  thou  thoughtest  had 
been  forgotten  long  ago  ;   and  Satan  hath  not  yet 


PREFACE.  23 

done  with  thee,  thougli  now  lie  be  out  of  sight ; 
and  God  hath  not  yet  done  with  thee,  because 
ihou  wih  not  be  persuaded  to  have  done  with 
deadly  reigning  sin.  I  have  written  thee  this  per- 
suasive, as  one  that  is  going  into  another  world, 
where  the  things  are  seen  that  I  here  speak  of, 
and  as  one  that  knoweth  thou  must  be  shortly 
there  thyself.  As  ever  thou  wilt  meet  me  with 
comfort  before  the  Lord  that  made  us ;  as  ever 
thou  wilt  escape  the  everlasting  plagues  prepared 
for  the  final  neglecters  of  salvation,  and  for  all 
that  are  not  sanctified  by  the  Holy  Ghost,  and 
love  not  the  communion  of  the  saints  as  members 
of  the  holy  catholic  church  ;  and  as  ever  thou 
hopest  to  see  the  face  of  Christ  the  Judge,  and  of 
the  majesty  of  the  Father,  with  peace  and  com- 
fort, and  to  be  received  into  glory  when  thou  art 
turned  naked  out  of  this  world  ;  I  beseech  thee,  I 
charge  thee,  to  hear  and  obey  the  call  of  God, 
and  resolvedly  to  turn,  that  thou  mayest  live. 
But,  if  thou  wilt  not,  even  when  thou  hast  no  true 
reason  for  it  but  because  thou  wilt  not,  I  summon 
thee  to  answer  it  before  the  Lord,  and  require 
thee  there  to  bear  me  witness  that  I  gave  thee 
warning,  and  that  thou  wast  not  condemned  for 
want  of  a  call  to  turn  and  live,  but  because  thou 
wouldst  not  believe  it,  and  obey  it :  which  also 
must  be  the  testimony  of  thy  serious  monitor, 

RICHARD   BAXTER. 

December  11, 1657. 


A   CALL 


THE   UNCONVERTED. 


Say  unto  Oienij  As  Ilive^  saiili  the  Lord  God,  I  have  no 
pleasure  in,  the  death  of  the  vncked;  hut  that  tJie  wick- 
ed turn  from  his  way  and  live  :  turn  ye,  turn  ye  from 
your  evil  ways ;  for  why  icill  ye  die,  O  house  of  Israel  1 
Ezekiel,  33  :ll. 

It  hath  been  the  astonishing  wonder  of 
many  a  man  as  well  as  mc,  to  read  in  the 
Holy  Scripture  how  few  will  be  saved,  and 
that  the  greatest  part  even  of  those  that  are 
called,  will  be  everlastingly  shut  out  of  the 
kingdom  of  heaven,  and  be  tormented  with 
the  devils  in  eternal  fire.  Infidels  believe 
not  this  v/hen  they  read  it,  and  therefore 
ihey  must  feel  it :  those  that  do  believe  it 
are  forced  to  cry  out  with  Paul,  "  O  the 
depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wisdom  and 
knowledge  of  God  !  How  unsearchable  are 
his  judgments,  and  his  ways  past  finding 
out!"  Rom.  11  :  33.  But  nature  itself  doth 
teach  us  all  to  lay  the  blame  of  evil  works 
upon  the  doers ;  and  therefore  when  we  see 

CaU.  3 


26  A    CALL    TO 

an}^  heinous  thing  done,  a  principle  of  jus- 
tice doth  provoke  us  to  inquire  after  him 
that  did  it,  that  the  evil  of  the  work  may  re- 
turn the  evil  of  shame  upon  the  author.  If 
"vve  saw  a  man  killed  and  cut  in  pieces  by 
the  way,  we  should  presently  ask.  Oh!  who 
did  this  cruel  deed  ?  If  the  town  was  wil- 
fully set  on  fire,  you  would  ask,  what  wick- 
ed wretch  did  this  ?  So  when  we  read  that 
many  souls  will  be  miserable  in  hell  for 
ever,  we  must  needs  think  with  ourselves, 
how  comes  this  to  pass  ?  and  whose  fault  is 
it?  Who  is  it  that  is  so  cruel  as  to  be  the 
cause  of  such  a  thing  as  this  ?  and  we  can 
meet  with  few  that  will  own  the  guilt.  It  is 
indeed  confessed  by  all,  that  Satan  is  the 
cause ;  but  that  doth  not  resolve  the  doubt, 
because  he  is  not  the  principal  cause.  He 
doth  not  force  men  to  sin,  but  tempts  them 
to  it,  and  leaves  it  to  their  own  vnlls  wheth- 
er they  will  do  it  or  not.  He  doth  not  carry 
men  to  an  alehouse  and  force  open  their 
mouths  and  pour  in  the  drink  ;  nor  doth  he 
liold  them  that  they  cannot  go  to  God's  ser- 
vice ;  nor  doth  he  force  their  hearts  from 
holy  thoughts.  It  lieth  therefore  between 
God  kiniself,  and  the  sinner;  cue  of  them 


THE    UNCONVERTED.  27 

must  needs  be  the  principal  cause  of  all  this 
misery,  whichever  it  is,  for  there  is  no  other 
to  hiy  it  upon  ;  and  God  disckiimcth  it,  ho 
will  not  take  it  upon  him;  and  the  wicked 
disclaim  it  usuallv,  and  thev  will  not  take  it 
upon  them,  and  this  is  the  controversy  that 
is  here  managing  in  my  text. 

The  Lord  complaiiieth  of  the  people;  and 
the  people  think  it  is  the  fault  ot"  God.  Tliy 
same  controversy  is  handled,  chap.  IS  :  25  ; 
they  plainly  say  "  that  the  way  of  the  Lord 
is  not  equal."  So  here  they  say,  verse  19, 
"  If  our  transgressions  and  our  sins  be  upon 
us,  and  we  pine  away  in  them,  how  shall 
we  then  live?"  As  if  they  should  say,  if 
we  must  die  and  be  miserable,  how  can  we 
help  it?  as  if  it  were  not  their  fault,  but 
God's.  But  God,  in  my  text,  doth  clear 
himself  of  it,  and  telleth  them  how  they  may 
help  it  if  they  will,  and  persuadeth  them  to 
use  the  means,  and  if  they  will  not  be  per- 
suaded, he  lets  them  know  that  it  is  the 
fault  of  themselves ;  and  if  this  will  not 
satisfy  them,  he  will  not  forbear  to  punish 
them.  It  is  he  that  will  be  the  Judge,  and 
he  will  judge  them  according  to  their  ways  ; 
they  are  no  judges  of  him  or  of  themselves, 


28  A    CALL    TO 

they  Avant  authority,  and  wisdom,  and  im- 
partiality ;  nor  is  it  their  cavilling  and  quarrel- 
ins:  with  God  that  shall  serve  their  turn,  or 
save  them  from  the  execution  of  that  justice 
at  which  they  murmur. 

The  words  of  this  verse  contain,  1.  God's 
clearing  himself  from  the  blame  of  their 
destruction.  This  he  doth  not  by  disown- 
ing his  law  that  the  wicked  shall  die,  nor 
by  disowning  his  judgment  and  execution 
according  to  that  law,  or  giving  them  any 
hope  that  the  law^  shall  not  be  executed ;  but 
by  professing  that  it  is  not  their  death  that  he 
takes  pleasure  in,  but  their  returning  rathei', 
that  thev  mav  live ;  and  this  he  confirmeth  to 
them  by  his  oath.  2.  An  express  exhortation 
to  the  wicked  to  return  ;  wherein  God  doth 
not  only  command,  but  persuade  nnd  con- 
descend also  to  reason  the  case  with  them, 
Why  will  the}'  die  ?  The  direct  end  of  this 
exhortation  is,  that  they  may  turn  and  live?. 
The  secondary  or  reserved  ends,  upon  sup- 
position that  this  is  not  attained,  are  these 
two  :  1.  To  convince  them  by  the  means 
which  he  used,  that  it  is  not  the  fault  of  God 
if  they  are  miserable.  2.  To  convince  them 
from  their  manifest  wilfulness  in   rejecting 


THE    UNCONVERTED.  29 

all  his  commands  and  persuasions,  that  it 
is  the  fault  of  themselves,  and  that  they  die, 
even  because  they  will  die. 

The  substance  of  the  text  doth  lie  in 
these  observations  following : 

Doctrine  1.  It  is  the  unchangeable  law  of 
God,  that  wicked  men  must  turn  or  die. 

Doctrine  2.  It  is  the  promise  of  God,  that 
the  wicked  shall  live,  if  they  will  but  turn. 

Doctrine  3.  God  takes  pleasure  in  men's 
conversion  and  salvation,  but  not  in  their 
death  or  damnation  :  he  had  rather  they 
would  return  and  live,  than  go  on  and  die. 

Doctrine  4.  This  is  a  most  certain  truth, 
which  because  God  would  not  have  men  to 
question,  he  hath  confirmed  it  to  them  so- 
lemnly by  his  oath. 

,  Doctrine  5.  The  Lord  doth  redouble  his 
commands  and  persuasions  to  the  wicked 
to  turn. 

Doctrine  6.  The  Lord  condescendeth  to 
reason  the  case  with  them ;  and  asketh  the 
wicked  why  they  will  die  ? 

Doctrine  7.  If  after  all  this  the  wicked 
will  not  turn,  it  is  not  the  fault  of  God  that 
they  perish,  but  of  themselves ;  their  own 
wilfulness  is  the  cause  of  their  damnation 


30  A   C.U.L   TO  (Dod  L 

they  therefore   die    because  they  ^vill  die. 
Having  laid  open  the  text  in  these  propo- 
sitions, I  shall  next  speak  somewhat  of  each 
of  them  in  order,  though  briefly. 

DOCTRINE   I. 

It   is    the   unchangeahle    law   of  God^  that 
wicked  men  must  turn  or  die. 

If  you  will  believe  God,  believe  this : 
there  is  but  one  of  these  tw^o  ways  for  every 
wicked  man,  cither  conversion  or  damna- 
tion. I  know  the  wicked  will  hardly  be 
persuaded  either  of  the  truth  or  equity  of 
this.  No  wonder  if  the  guilty  quarrel  with 
the  law.  Few  men  are  apt  to  believe  that 
w^hich  they  would  not  have  to  be  true,  and 
few^er  would  have  that  to  be  true  which 
they  apprehend  to  be  against  them.  But  it 
is  not  quarrelling  with  the  law,  or  with  the 
judge,  that  will  save  the  malefactor.  Be- 
lieving and  regarding  the  law  might  have 
prevented  his  death ;  but  denying  and  ac- 
cusing it  will  but  hasten  it.  If  it  were  not 
so,  a  hundred  would  bring  their  reason 
against  the  law,  for  one  that  would  bring 
his  reason  to  the  law,  and  men  would  rather 
choose    to    give    their    reasons    why   they 


Doct.  1.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  31 

should  not  be  punished,  than  to  hear  the 
commands  and  reasons  of  their  governors 
which  require  them  to  obey.  The  law  was 
not  made  for  you  to  judge,  but  that  you 
might  be  ruled  and  judged  by  it. 

But  if  there  be  any  so  blind  as  to  venture 
to  question  either  the  truth  or  the  justice  of 
this  law  of  God,  I  shall  briefly  giv.:  you  that 
evidence  of  both  which  methinks  should  sat- 
isfy a  reasonable  man.    And, 

L  If  you  doubt  whether  this  be  the  word 
of  God  or  not,  besides  a  hundred  other 
texts,  you  may  be  satisfied  by  these  few : 
Matt.  18  :  3.  "  Verily  I  say  unto  you,  except 
ye  be  converted  and  become  as  little  chil- 
dren, ye  shall  not  enter  into  the  kingdom  of 
heaven."  John,  3:3.*'  Verily,  verily,  I  say 
unto  thee,  except  a  man  be  born  again  he 
cannot  see  the  kingdom  of  God."  2  Cor.  5  : 
17.  '*  If  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new 
creature ;  old  things  are  passed  away ;  be- 
hold, all  things  are  become  new."  Col.  3  :  9, 
10.  "Ye  have  put  off  the  old  man  with  his 
deeds,  and  have  put  on  the  new  man,  which 
is  renewed  in  knowledge  after  the  ima^T^e  of 
him  that  created  him."  Heb.  12  :  14.  *'  With- 
out holiness  no  man  shall  see  the  Lord."  Kom. 


32  A    CALL    TO  (Doct-  L 

8  :  S,  9.  "  So  then  they  that  are  in  the  flesh 
cannot  please  God.  Now  if  any  man  have 
not  the  spirit  of  Christ,  he  is  none  of  his.'* 
Gal.  6  :  15.  "For  in  Christ  Jesus  neither  cir- 
cumcision availeth  any  thing,  nor  uncircum- 
cision,  but  a  new  creature."  1  Pet.  1  :  3. 
"  According  to  his  abundant  mercy  he  hath 
begotten  us  to  a  lively  hope."  ver.  23.  "  Be- 
ing born  again,  not  of  corruptible  seed,  but 
of  incorruptible,  by  the  word  of  God,  which 
liveth  and  abideth  for  ever."  1  Pet.  2  :  1,  2. 
"  Wherefore  laying  aside  all  malice,  and  all 
guile,  and  hypocrisies  and  envies,  and  all 
evil  speakings,  as  new  born  babes,  desire  the 
sincere  milk  of  the  word,  that  ye  may  grow 
thereby."  Psalm  9  :  17.  "  The  wicked  shall 
be  turned  into  hell,  and  all  the  nations  that 
foriret  God."  Psalm  11  :  5.  "And  the  Lord 

o 

trieth  the  riditeous,  but  the  wicked  his  soul 
hateth." 

As  I  need  not  stay  to  open  these  texts 
which  are  so  plain,  so  I  think  I  need  not  add 
any  more  of  that  multitude  which  speak  the 
like.  If  thou  be  a  man  that  dost  believe  the 
word  of  God,  here  is  already  enough  to  sat- 
isfy thee  that  the  wicked  must  be  converted 
or  condemned.    You  are  already  brought  so 


T>oct.l.i  THE    U.XCOIVTERTED.  33 

far  that  you  must  either  confess  that  this  is 
true,  or  say  plainly,  you  will  not  believe  the 
word  of  God.  And  if  once  you  corne  to  that 
pass  there  is  but  small  hope  of  you  :  look  to 
yourself  as  well  as  you  can,  for  it  is  likely 
you  will  not  be  long  out  of  hell.  You  would 
be  ready  to  fly  in  the  face  of  him  that  should 
give  you  the  lie ;  and  yet  dare  you  give  tho 
lie  to  God  ?  But  if  3'ou  tell  God  plainly  you 
will  not  believe  him,  blame  him  not  if  ho 
never  warn  you  more,  or  if  he  forsake  you, 
and  give  you  up  as  hopeless;  for  to  what 
purpose  should  he  warn  you,  if  you  will  not 
believe  him  ?  Should  he  send  an  angel  from 
heaven  to  you,  it  seems  you  w^ould  not  be- 
Heve.  For  an  angel  can  speak  but  the  word 
of  God ;  and  if  an  angel  should  bring  vou 
any  other  gospel,  you  are  not  to  receive  it, 
but  to  hold  him  accursed.  Gal.  1  :  8.  And 
surely  there  is  no  angel  to  be  believed  before 
the  Son  of  God,  who  came  from  the  Father 
to  bring  us  this  doctrine.  If  he  be  not  to  be 
believed,  then  all  the  angels  in  heaven  are 
not  to  be  believed.  And  if  you  stand  on  these 
terms  with  God,  I  shall  leave  you  till  he 
deal  with  you  in  a  more  convincing  way. 
God  hath  a  voice  that  will  maJvC  you  hear. 


34  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  L 

Though  lie  entreat  you  to  hear  the  voice  of 
his  Gospel,  he  will  make  you  hear  the  voice 
of  his  condemnino:  sentence,  without  entreaty. 
We  cannot  make  vou  beheve  a^rainst  yout 
vnWs ;  but  God  will  make  you  feel  against 
your  wills. 

But  let  us  hear  what  reason  you  have  why 
you  v/ill  not  believe  this  word  of  God,  which 
tells  us  that  the  wicked  must  be  converted, 
or  condemned.  I  know  your  reason ;  it  is 
because  vou  judfre  it  unlikely  that  God  should 
be  so  unmerciful :  you  think  it  cruelty  to 
damn  men  everlastingly  for  so  small  a  thing 
as  a  sinfid  life.    And  this  leads  us, 

II.  To  justify  the  equity  of  God  in  his  laws 
and  judgments. 

1.  I  think  you  will  not  deny  that  it  is 
most  suitable  to  an  immortal  soul  to  be 
ruled  by  laws  that  promise  an  immortal  re- 
ward, and  threaten  an  endless  punishment. 
Otherwise  the  law  would  not  be  suited  to 
the  nature  of  the  subject,  who  will  not  be 
fully  ruled  by  any  lower  means  than  the 
liopes  or  fears  of  everlasting  things  :  as  it  is 
in  cases  of  temporal  punishment,  if  a  law 
were  now  made  that  the  most  heinous  crimes 


Doctl.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  35^ 

should  be  punished  with  a  hundred  years* 
captivity,  this  might  be  of  some  efficacy,  as 
being  equal  to  our  lives.  But,  if  there  had 
been  no  other  penalties  before  the  flood,  when 
men  lived  eight  or  nine  hundred  years,  it 
would  not  have  been  sufficient,  because  men 
would  know  that  they  might  hav(i  so  many 
hundred  years  impunity  afterward.  So  it  is 
in  our  present  case. 

2.  I  suppose  that  you  will  confess  that 
the  promise  of  an  endless  and  inconceivable 
glory  is  not  unsuitable  to  the  wisdom  of 
God  or  the  case  of  man  :  and  why  then 
should  you  not  think  so  of  the  threatening  of 
an  endless  and  unspeakable  misery ! 

3.  When  you  find  it  in  the  word  of  God 
that  so  it  is,  and  so  it  will  be,  do  you  think 
yourselves  Jit  to  contradict  this  word  '?  Will 
you  call  your  Maker  to  the  bar,  and  exam- 
ine his  word  upon  the  accusation  of  false- 
hood? Will  you  sit  upon  him  and  judge  him 
by  the  law  of  your  conceits  ?  Are  you  wiser, 
and  better,  and  more  righteous  than  he?  3Iust 
the  God  of  heaven  come  to  school  to  you  to 
learn  wisdom  ?  Must  Infinite  Wisdom  learn 
of  folly,  and  Infinite  Goodness  be  corrected 
by  a  sinner  that  cannot  keep  himself  an  hour 


36  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.1. 

clean?  Must  the  Almighty  stand  at  the  baf 
of  a  "worm  ?  O  horrid  arroo^ancy  of  senseless 
dust !  Shall  a  mole,  or  clod,  or  dunghill, 
accuse  the  sun  of  darkness,  and  undertake 
to  illuminate  the  world  ?  Where  were  3'ou 
when  the  Almighty  made  the  laws,  that  he 
did  not  call  you  to  his  counsel  ?  Surely  he 
made  them  before  you  were  born,  without 
desiring  your  advice  ;  and  j'ou  came  into  the 
world  too  late  to  reverse  them,  if  vou  could 
have  done  so  great  a  work.  You  should  have 
stepped  out  of  your  nothingness  and  have 
contradicted  Christ  when  he  was  on  earth, 
or  Moses  before  him,  or  have  saved  Adam 
and  his  sinful  progeny  from  the  threatened 
death,  that  so  there  might  have  been  no  need 
of  Christ.  And  what  if  God  withdraw  his 
patience  and  sustaining  power,  and  let  vou 
drop  into  hell  while  you  are  quarrelling  with 
his  word,  will  3'ou  then  believe  that  there  is 
a  hell  ? 

■i.  If  sin  be  such  an  evil  that  it  requireth 
the  death  of  Christ  for  its  expiation,  no  won- 
der if  it  deserve  our  everlastinc^  misers'. 

5.  And  if  the  sin  of  devils  deserve  an 
endless  torment,  why  not  also  the  sin  of  man? 

6.  And  methinks  you  should  perceive  that 


Doci,i.)  THE  l\\con\i:rteb.  37 

it  is  not  possible  for  the  best  of  men,  much 
less  for  tlie  wicked,  to  be  competent  judges  of 
the  desert  of  sin.  Alas  !  we  are  both  blind 
rind  partial.  You  can  never  know  fully  the 
desert  of  sin,  till  you  fully  know  the  evil  of 
sin ;  and  you  can  never  fully  know  the  evil 
of  sin,  till  you  fully  know,  1.  The  excellency 
of  the  soul  wliich  it  deformeth.  2.  The 
excellency  of  holiness  which  it  obliterates. 
3.  The  reason  and  excellency  of  the  law 
which  it  violates.  4.  The  excellency  of  the 
glory  which  it  despises.  5.  The  excellency 
and  office  of  reason  which  it  treadeth  down. 
(>,  No,  nor  till  you  know  the  infinite  excellent 
ov,  almiirhtiness  and  holiness  of  that  God 
against  whom  it  is  committed.  When  you 
fully  know  all  these,  3^ou  shall  fully  know 
the  desert  of  sin.  Besides,  you  know  that  the 
offender  is  too  partial  to  judge  the  law  or 
ihe  proceedings  of  his  judge.  We  judge  by 
feeling,  which  blinds  our  reason.  We  see, 
in  common  worldly  things,  that  most  men 
think  the  cause  is  right  which  is  their  own, 
and  tnit  all  is  wrong  that  is  done  against 
ihem  ;  and  let  the  most  wise,  or  just,  or  im- 
partial friends  persuade  them  to  the  contra- 
ry, and  it  is  all  in  vain.    There  are  few  chil- 

B.  Call.  4 


38  A    CALL    TO  (Doctl. 

dren  but  think  the  father  is  unmerciful,  or 
dealeth  hardly  with  them  if  he  whip  them. 
There  is  scarce  the  vilest  wretch  but  thinketh 
the  church  doth  wrong  him  if  they  excom- 
municate him;  or  scarce  a  thief  or  murderer 
that  is  hanged,  but  would  accuse  the  law  and 
judge  of  cruelty,  if  that  would  serve  their  turn. 

7.  Can  you  think  that  unholy  souls  me  Jit 
for  heaven?  Alas,  they  cannot  love  God 
here,  nor  do  him  any  service  which  he  can 
accept.  They  are  contrar}^  to  God,  they 
loathe  that  which  he  most  loveth,  and  love 
that  which  he  abhorreth.  They  are  inca- 
pable of  that  imperfect  communion  with 
him  which  his  saints  here  partake  of.  How 
then  can  they  live  in  that  perfect  love  of  him, 
and  full  delight  and  communion  with  him, 
which  is  the  blessedness  of  heaven?  You  do 
not  accuse  j^ourselves  of  unmercifulness  if 
you  make  not  your  enemy  your  bosom  coun- 
sellor ;  or  if  you  take  not  your  swine  to  bed 
and  board  with  you,  no,  nor  if  you  take  away 
his  life  though  he  never  sinned  ;  and  yet  you 
will  blame  the  absolute  Lord,  the  most  wise 
and  gracious  Sovereign  of  the  world,  if  he  con- 
demn the  unconverted  to  perpetual  misery. 

I   beseech  you  now,  all   that  love  your 


Doct.  1.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  39 

souls,  that,  instead  of  quarrelling  ^vilh  Cod 
and  with  his  word,  you  will  presently  re- 
ceive it,  and  use  it  for  your  good.  All  3-0 u 
that  are  yet  unconverted,  take  this  as  the 
undoubted  truth  of  God  :  You  must,  ere  long, 
be  converted  or  condemned ;  there  is  no 
other  way  but  to  turn,  or  die.  When  God, 
that  cannot  lie,  hath  told  you  this  ;  when 
you  hear  it  from  the  Maker  and  Judge  of  the 
W'orld,  it  is  time  for  him  that  hath  ears  to 
hear.  By  this  time  you  may  see  what  you 
have  to  trust  to.  You  are  but  dead  and 
damned  men,  except  you  will  be  converted. 
Should  I  tell  5^ou  otherwise,  I  should  deceive 
you  with  a  lie.  Should  I  hide  this  from  you, 
I  should  undo  you,  and  be  guilty  of  your 
blood,  as  the  verses  before  my  text  assure 
me. — verse  8.  "  When  I  say  to  the  wicked 
man,  O  wicked  man,  thou  shalt  surely  die ; 
if  thou  dost  not  speak  to  warn  the  wdcked 
from  his  way,  that  wdcked  man  shall  die  in 
his  iniquity  ;  but  his  blood  will  I  require  at 
thine  hand."  You  see  then,  though  this  be  a 
rough  and  unwelcome  doctrine,  it  is  such  as 
we  must  preach,  and  you  must  hear.  It  is 
easier  to  hear  of  hell  than  feel  it.  If  3'our 
necessities  did  not  require  it,  we  w^ould  not 


•iO  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  L 

trail  your  tender  ears  with  truths  that  seem 
so  harsh  and  grievous.  Hell  would  not  be 
so  iiill,  if  people  were  but  willing  to  know 
their  case,  and  to  hear  and  tliink  of  it.  The 
reason  wh}'-  so  few^  escape  it,  is  because  they 
strive  not  to  enter  in  at  the  strait  gate  of  con- 
version, and  go  the  narrow  way  of  holiness 
while  they  have  time ;  and  they  strive  not, 
because  they  are  not  awakened  to  a  lively 
feeling  of  the  danger  they  are  in;  and  they 
are  not  awakened  because  they  are  loth  to 
hear  or  think  of  it ;  and  that  is  partly  througli 
foolish  tenderness  and  carnal  self-love,  and 
partly  because  they  do  not  well  believe  the 
word  that  threateneth  it.  If  you  v/ill  not 
thoroughly  believe  this  truth,  niethinks  the 
weight  of  it  should  force  yon  to  remember 
it,  and  it_  should  follow  you,  and  give  3^ou 
no  rest  till  you  are  converted.  If  3'ou  had 
but  once  heard  this  word  by  the  voice  of 
an  angel,  "  Thou  must  be  converted  or  con- 
demjied  :  turn,  or  die  :"  v/ould  it  not  sink 
into  your  mind,  and  haunt  3"ou  night  and 
day?  so  that  in  your  sinning  you  would  re- 
member it,  as  if  the  voice  were  still  in  your 
ears,  "  Turn,  or  die  !"  O  happy  were  your 
soul  if  it  might  thus  work  with  you   and 


Doct.  10  THE    UNCONVERTED.  41 

never  be  forgotten,  or  let  you  alone  till  it 
have  driven  home  your  heart  to  God.  But 
if  3"ou  will  cast  it  out  by  forgetfulness  or  un- 
belief, how  can  it  work  to  your  conversion 
and  salvation?  But  take  this  whh.  you  to 
3'"our  sorrow,  though  you  may  put  this  out  of 
3''0ur  mind  you  cannot  put  it  out  of  the  Bible, 
but  there  it  will  stand  as  a  sealed  truth, 
which  3^ou  shall  experimentally  know  for  ever, 
that  there  is  no  other  way  but  "  turn,  or  die." 
O  what  is  the  matter  then  that  the  hearts 
of  sinners  are  not  pierced  with  such  a 
weighty  truth?  A  man  would  think  now, 
that  every  unconverted  soul  that  hears  these 
words  should  be  pricked  to  the  heart  and 
think  with  himself,  *'  This  is  my  own  case," 
and  never  be  quiet  till  he  found  himself  con- 
verted. Believe  it,  this  drowsy  careless 
temper  will  not  last  long.  Conversion  and 
condemnation  are  both  of  them  awakening 
things,  and  one  of  them  will  make  you  feel 
ere  long.  I  can  foretell  it  as  truly  as  if  I 
saw  it  with  my  e^^es,  that  either  grace  or 
liell  will  shortly  bring  these  matters  to  the 
point,  and  make  you  say,  "What  have  I 
done  ?  what  a  foolish  wicked  course  have  I 
taken  ?"    The  scornful  and  the  stupid  state 

4* 


42  A    CALL    TO  (Doctl. 

of  sinnei'3  vvdll  last  but  a  little  while  :  as  soon 
as  they  either  turn  or  die,  the  presumptu- 
ous dream  wiH  be  at  an  end,  and  then  their 
senses  and  feeling  will  return. 

But  I  foresee  there  are  two  things  that  are 
likely  to  harden  the  uneonverted  and  make 
me  lose  all  my  labor,  unless  they  can  be 
taken  out  of  the  way ;  namely,  the  misun- 
derstanding of  those  tw^o  words,  the  wicked 
and  tifrn.  Some  will  think  with  themselves, 
"  It  is  true,  the  wicked  mast  turn  or  die;  but 
what  is  that  to  me,  I  am  not  wicked,  though 
I  am  a  sinner  as  all  men  are."  Others  will 
think,  "It  is  true  that  we  must  turn  from  our 
evil  ways,  but  I  am  turned  long  ago  ;  I  hope 
this  is  not  now  to  do."  And  thus  while  wick- 
ed men  think  thev  are  not  wicked,  but  are 
already  converted,  we  lose  all  our  labor  in 
persuading  them  to  turn.  I  shall  therefore, 
before  I  go  any  further,  tell  you  here  who 
are  meant  hy  the  wicked,  or  who  they  are 
that  must  turn  or  die  ;  and  also  ivhat  is 
meant  hy  turning,  or  who  they  are  that  are 
truly  converted.  And  this  I  have  purposely 
reserved  for  this  place,  preferring  the  meth- 
od that  lits  my  end.    And 


Doct,  1.)  fllE    UNCONVERTED.  43 

I.  Here  you  may  observe,  that  in  the 
sense  of  the  text  a  wicked  man  and  a  con- 
verted man  are  contraries :  no  man  is  a 
wicked  man  that  is  converted  ;  and  no  man 
is  a  converted  man  that  is  wicked ;  so  that 
to  be  a  wicked  man  and  to  be  an  unconvert- 
ed man  is  all  one  ;  and  therefore  in  dealing 
with  one  we  shall  deal  with  both. 

Before  I  can  tell  you  what  either  wicked- 
ness or  conversion  is,  I  must  go  to  the  bottom 
and  take  up  the  matter  from  the  beginning. 

It  pleased  the  great  Creator  of  the  world  to 
make  three  sorts  of  living  creatures.  Angels 
he  made  pure  spirits  without  flesh,  and  there- 
fore he  made  them  only  for  heaven,  and  not 
to  dwell  on  earth.  Brutes  were  made  flesh 
without  immortal  souls,  and  therefore  they 
were  made  only  for  earth,  and  not  for  hea- 
ven. I\Ian  is  of  a  middle  nature,  between 
both,  as  partaking  of  both  flesh  o.nd  spirit, 
and  therefore  he  was  made  both  for  heaven 
and  earth.  But  as  his  flesh  is  made  to  be  but 
a  servant  to  his  spirit,  so  is  he  made  for  earth 
but  as  his  passage  or  way  to  heaven,  and 
not  that  this  should  be  his  home  or  happi- 
ness. The  blessed  state  that  man  was  made 
for,  was  to  behold  the  glorious  majesty  of 


44  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  1. 

the  Lord,  and  to  praise  him  among  his  holy 
angels,  and  to  love  him,  and  to  be  filled 
with  his  love  for  ever.  And  as  this  was  the 
end  that  man  was  made  for,  so  God  gave 
liim  means  that  were  fitted  to  the  attaining 
of  it. 

These  means  were  principally  two :  1. 
The  right  inclination  and  disposition  of  the 
mind  of  man.  2.  The  right  ordering  of 
his  life  and  practice.  For  the  first,  God  suit- 
ed the  disposition  of  man  unto  his  end,  giv- 
ing him  such  knowledge  of  God  as  was  fit 
for  his  present  state,  and  a  heart  disposed 
and  inclined  to  God  in  holy  love.  But  yet 
he  did  not  fix  or  confirm  him  in  this  condi- 
tion, bnt,  having  made  him  a  free  agent,  he 
left  him  to  the  exercise  of  his  own  free  will. 
For  the  second,  God  did  that  which  belonged 
>to  him  ;  that  is,  he  gave  him  a  perfect  law^,  re- 
quiring himtocontinue  in  the  love  of  God,  and 
perfectly  to  obey  him. 

By  the  wilful  breach  of  this  law,  man  not 
only  forfeited  his  hopes  of  everlasting  life, 
but  also  turned  his  heart  from  God  and  fixed 
it  on  these  lower  fleshly  things,  and  thereby 
blotted  out  the  spiritual  image  of  God  from 
his  soul ;  so  that  man  both  fell  short  of  the 


Doct.  1.)  THE    UXCOXVERTED.  ^  A5 

glory  of  God,  which  was  his  end,  and  put 
himself  out  of  the  way  by  which  he  should 
have  attained  it,  and  this  both  as  to  the 
frame  of  his  heart  and  of  his  life.  The  liolv 
inclination  and  love  of  his  soul  to  God  lie 
lust,  and  instead  of  it  he  contracted  an  in- 
clination and  love  to  the  pleasing  of  liis 
ilcsh,  or  carnal  self,  bv  earthlv  things  ;  orow- 
ing  strange  to  God  and  acquainted  w^ith  the 
creature.  And  the  course  of  liis  life  w'as 
suited  to  the  bent  and  inclination  of  his 
heart ;  he  lived  to  his  carnal  self,  and  not  to 
God  ;  he  sought  the  creature  for  the  pleasing 
of  his  flesh,  instead  of  seeking  to  please  thti 
Lord.  With  this  nature  or  corrupt  inclina- 
tion we  are  all  now"  born  into  the  world  ; 
"  forw^ho  can  bring  a  clean  tiling  out  of  an 
unclean?"  Job,  14:4.  As  a  lion  hath  a 
lierce  and  cruel  nature  before  he  doth  de- 
vour ;  and  an  adder  hath  a  venomous  na- 
ture before  she  stings,  so  in  our  infanc}^  wo 
have  those  sinful  natures  or  inclinations  be- 
fore we  think,  or  speak,  or  do  amiss.  And 
hence  springeth  all  the  sin  of  our  lives  ;  and 
not  only  so,  but  when  God  hath  of  his  mer- 
cy, provided  us  a  remedy,  even  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  to  be  the  Savior  of  our  souls 


46  A     CALL    TO  (DocLl. 

and  bring  us  back  to  God  again,  we  natural- 
ly love  our  present  state,  and  are  loth  to  be 
brought  out  of  it,  and  therefore  are  set 
against  the  means  of  our  recovery :  and 
though  custom  hath  taught  us  to  thank 
Christ  for  his  good  will,  yet  carnal  self  per- 
suades us  to  refuse  his  remedies,  and  to  de- 
sire to  be  excused  when  we  are  command- 
ed to  take  the  medicines  which  he  offers, 
and  are  called  to  forsake  all  and  follow  him 
to  God  and  glory. 

I  pray  you  read  over  this  leaf  agam,  and 
mark  it ;  for  in  these  few  words  you  have 
a  true  description  of  our  natural  state,  and 
consequently  of  a  w'icked  man ;  for  every 
man  that  is  in  the  state  of  corrupt  nature  is 
a  wicked  man,  and  in  a  state  of  death. 

II.  By  this  you  are  prepared  to  understand 

WHAT     IT    IS    TO    BE    CONVERTED  I     tO     which 

end  you  must  further  know,  that  the  mercy 
of  God,  not  willing  that  man  should  perish 
in  his  sins,  provided  a  remedy,  by  causing 
his  Son  to  take  our  nature,  and  being  in  one 
person  God  and  man,  to  become  a  mediator 
between  God  and  man ;  and  by  dying  for 
OUT  sins  on  the  cross,  to  ransom  us  from  the 
curse  of  God  and  the  power  of  the  devil. 


Doct.  1.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  Alf 

And  having  thus  redeemed  us,  the  Father 
hath  dehvered  us  into  his  hands  as  his  own. 
Hereupon  the  Father  and  the  Mediator  do 
make  a  new  law  and  covenant  for  man,  not 
like  the  first,  which  gave  hfe  to  none  but 
the  perfectly  obedient,  and  condemned  man 
for  every  sin;  but  Christ  hath  made  a  law  of 
grace,  or  a  promise  of  pardon  and  everlast- 
ing life  to  all  that,  by  true  repentance,  and 
by  faith  in  Christ,  are  converted  unto  God : 
like  an  act  of  oblivion  which  is  made  bv  a 
prince  to  a  company  of  rebels,  on  condition 
that  they  will  lay  down  their  arms  and  come 
in  and  be  loyal  subjects  for  the  time  to  come. 

But,  because  the  Lord  knoweth  that  the 
heart  of  man  is  grown  so  wicked,  that,  for 
all  this,  men  will  not  accept  of  the  remedy 
if  they  are  left  to  themselves,  therefore  the 
Holy  Ghost  hath  undertaken  it  as  his  office 
to  inspire  the  apostles,  and  seal  the  Scrip- 
tures by  miracles  and  wonders,  and  to  il- 
luminate and  convert  the  souls  of  the  elect. 

So  by  this  much  you  see,  that  as  there 
are  three  persons  in  the  Trinity,  the  Father, 
the  Son,  and  the  Holy  Ghost,  so  each  of 
tliese  persons  have  their  several  works, 
which  are  eminently  ascribed  to  them. 


48  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  1. 

The  Fathpys  works  were,  to  create  us,  to 
rule  us,  as  his  rational  creatures,  by  the  law 
of  nature,  and  judge  us  thereby ;  and  in 
mercy  to  provide  us  a  Redeemer  when  we 
were  lost;  and  to  send  his  Son,  and  accept 
his  ransom. 

The  works  of  the  So/i  for  us  were  these : 
to  ransom  and  redeem  us  by  his  sufferings 
and  righteousness ;  to  give  out  the  promise 
or  law  of  grace,  and  rule  and  judge  the 
world  as  the  Redeem.er,  on  terms  of  grace  ; 
to  make  intercession  for  us,  that  the  benefits 
of  his  death  may  be  communicated ;  and  to 
send  the  Holv  Ghost,  which  the  Father  also 
doth  by  the  Son. 

The  works  of  the  Hohj  Ghost  for  us  are 
these  :  to  indite  the  Holy  Scriptures  by  in- 
spiring and  guiding  the  Prophets  and  Apos- 
tles, and  sealinc:  the  Vv'ord  bv  his  miraculous 
gifts  and  works ;  and  iUuminating  and  excit- 
ing the  ordinary  ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and 
so  enabling  them  and  helping  them  to  pub- 
lish, that  word ;  and  by  the  same  word  il- 
luminating and  converting  the  souls  of  men. 
So  that  as  you  could  not  have  been  reason- 
able creatures  if  the  Father  had  not  created 
yoa,  nor  have  had  any  access  to  God  if  the 


DocM.)  THE    UNCONVERTED,  49 

Son  lind  not  redeemed  you,  so  neither  can 
you  have  a  part  in  Christ  or  be  saved  ex- 
cept the  Holy  Ghost  do  sanctify  you. 

So  that  by  this  time  you  may  see  the 
several  causes  of  this  work.  The  Fatlier 
sendeth  the  Son  ;  the  Son  redeemeth  us  and 
maketh  the  promise  of  grace  ;  the  Holy 
Ghost  inditeth  and  sealeth  this  Gospel ;  the 
Apostles  are  the  secretaries  of  the  Spirit  to 
write  it ;  the  preachers  of  the  Gospel  to  pro- 
claim it,  and  persuade  men  to  obey  it;  and 
the  Holy  Ghost  doth  make  their  preacliing 
effectual,  by  opening  the  hearts  of  men  to 
entertain  it.  And  all  tliis  to  re])air  the  im- 
age of  God  upon  the  soul,  and  to  set  the 
heart  upon  God  again,  and  take  it  off'  from 
the  creature  and  carnal  self  to  which  it  is 
revolted,  and  so  to  turn  the  current  of  the 
life  into  a  heavenly  course,  which  before 
was  earthly ;  and  this  throufrli  embraciu"- 
Christ  by  faith,  who  is  the  Physician  of  the 
soul. 

By  what  I  have  said  you  may  see  what 
it  is  to  be  wicked,  and  what  it  is  to  be  con- 
verted; which,  I  think,  will  be  yet  plainer 
to  you,  if  I  describe  them  as  consisting  of 

E.  CiUl.  5 


50  A    CALL    TO  (Doct  L 

their  several  parts.  A  wicked  man  may 
bo  known  by  these  three  things  : 

1.  He  is  one  who  placeth  his  chief  af- 
fections on  earth,  and  loveth  the  creature 
more  than  God,  and  his  fleshly  prosperity 
above  the  heavenly  felicity.  He  savoreth 
the  thinu:s  of  the  flesh,  but  neither  discerneth 
nor  savoreth  the  things  of  the  Spirit ;  though 
he  will  say  that  heaven  is  better  than  earth, 
vet  he  doth  not  reallv  so  esteem  it  to  himself. 
If  he  might  be  sure  of  earth,  he  would  let 
go  heaven,  and  had  rather  stay  here  than  be 
removed  thither.  A  life  of  perfect  holiness 
in  the  sisfht  of  God,  dwellinc:  in  his  love  and 
praising  him  for  ever  in  heaven,  is  not  so 
pleasing  to  his  heart  as  a  life  of  health,  and 
wealth,  and  honor  here  upon  earth.  And 
though  he  falsely  profess  that  he  loves  God 
above  all,  yet  indeed  he  never  felt  the  pow- 
er of  divine  love  within  him,  but  his  mind  is 
more  set  on  the  world  or  fleshly  pleasures 
than  on  God.  In  a  word,  whoever  loves  earth 
above  heaven,  and  fleshly  prosperity  more 
than  God,  is  a  wicked  unconverted  man. 

On  the  other  hand,  a  converted  man  is 
illuminated  to  discern  the  loveliness  of  God, 
and  so  far  believeth  the  glory  that  is  to  be 


Doct.  1.)  THE    UXGONVERTED.  51 

had  with  God,  that  his  heart  is  taken  up 
with  it  and  set  more  upon  it  than  on  any 
thing:  in  this  world.  He  had  rather  see  the 
face  of  God,  and  live  in  his  everlasting  love 
and  praises,  than  have  all  the  wealtli  or 
pleasures  of  the  world.  He  seeth  that  all 
things  else  are  vanity,  and  nothing  but  God 
can  fill  the  soul ;  and  therefore  let  the  world 
go  which  way  it  will,  he  layeth  up  his  trea- 
sures and  hopes  in  heaven,  and  for  that  he 
is  resolved  to  let  go  all.  As  the  lire  doth 
mount  upward,  and  the  needle  that  is  touch- 
ed with  the  loadstone  still  turns  to  the  north, 
so  the  converted  soul  is  inclined  unto  God. 
Nothing  else  can  satisfy  him  ;  nor  can  he 
find  anv  content  and  rest  but  in  his  love.  In 
a  word,  all  that  are  converted  do  esteem 
and  love  God  better  than  all  the  world,  and 
the  heavenly  felicity  is  dearer  to  thorn  than 
their  lleshly  prosperity.  The  proof  of  what 
]  have  said  you  may  find  in  these  places  of 
Scripture  :  Thil.  3  :  S-IU  ;  Matt.  G  :  19-21  ; 
Col.  3  :  1-4;  Rom.  8  :  5-9,  18,  23  ;  Psahn 
73  :  25,  20. 

2.  A  wicked  man  is  one  that  makes  it 
the  principal  business  of  his  life  to  prosper 
in   the  world  and    attain  his    lleshly    ends. 


52  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  1. 

And  though  he  may  read,  and  hear,  and  do 
much  in  the  outward  duties  of  rehgion,  and 
Ibrbear  disgraceful  sins,  yet  this  is  all  but 
by-the-by,  and  lie  never  makes  it  the  princi- 
pal business  of  his  life  to  please  God  and 
attain  everlasting  glory,  but  puts  off'  God 
with  the  leavings  of  the  world,  and  gives 
him  no  more  service  than  the  flesh  can 
spare,  for  he  will  not  part  with  all  for 
heaven. 

On  the  contrary,  a  converted  man  is  one 
that  makes  it  the  principal  care  and  busi- 
ness of  his  life  to  please  God  and  to  be 
saved,  and  takes  all  the  blessings  of  this  life 
but  as  accommodations  in  his  journey  to- 
ward another  life,  and  useth  the  creature  in 
subordination  to  God  :  he  loves  a  holy  life, 
and  longs  to  be  more  holy ;  he  hath  no  sin 
but  what  he  liateth,  and  longeth,  and  pray- 
eth,  and  striveth  to  be  rid  of.  The  drift  and 
bent  of  his  life  is  for  God,  and  if  he  sin,  it  is 

contrary  to   the  very  bent  of  his  heart  and 

■J 

life ;  and  therefore  he  riseth  again  and  la- 
menteth  it,  and  dares  not  wilfully  live  in  any 
known  sin.  There  is  nothing  in  this  world 
so  dear  to  him  but  he  can  give  it  up  to  God, 
and  forsake  it  for  him  and  the  hopes  of  glory. 


Doct.  1.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  53 

All  this  you  may  see  in  Col.  3  :  1-5;  Malt. 
6  :  20,  33  ;  Luke,  18  :  22,  23,  29  ;  and  14  : 
18,  24,  2G,  27  ;  Rom.  8  :  13 ;  Gal.  5  :  24 ; 
Luke,  12  :  21,  &c. 

3.  The  soul  of  a  wicked  man  did  never 
truly  discern  and  relish  the  mystery  of 
redemption,  nor  tliankfully  entertain  an  of- 
fered Savior,  nor  is  he  taken  up  Avith  the 
love  of  the  Redeemer,  nor  willing  to  be  ruled 
by  him  as  the  Physician  of  his  soul,  that  he 
may  be  saved  from  the  guilt  and  power  of 
his  sins,  and  recovered  to  God ;  but  his 
lieart  is  insensible  of  this  unspeakable  bene- 
fit, and  is  quite  against  the  healing  means 
by  which  lie  should  l)e  recovered.  Though 
he  may  be  willing  to  be  outwardly  religious, 
yet  he  never  resigned  up  his  soul  to  Christ 
and  to  the  motions  and  conduct  of  his  word 
and  Spirit. 

On  the  contrary,  the  converted  soul  havinir 
felt  himself  undone  by  sin,  and  perceiving 
that  he  hath  lost  his  peace  with  God  and 
hopes  of  heaven,  and  is  in  danger  of  ever- 
lasting misery,  doth  thankfully  entertain  the 
tidings  of  redemption,  and  believing  in  the 
Lord  Jesus  as  his  onlv  Savior,  resif!:ns  him- 
self  up  to  him   for  wisdom,  righteousness, 


54  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  1. 

sanctification,  and  redemption.  He  takes 
Christ  as  the  life  of  his  soul,  and  lives  by 
him,  and  uses  him  as  a  salve  for  eveiy  sore, 
admiring  the  wisdom  and  love  of  God  in  his 
wonderful  work  of  man's  redemption.  In  a 
word,  Christ  doth  even  dwell  in  his  heart  by 
laith,  and  the  life  that  he  now  liveth,  is  by 
the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  that  loved  him, 
and  gave  himself  for  him  ;  3^ea,  it  is  not  so 
much  he  that  liveth,  as  Christ  in  him.  For 
these,  see  John,  1  :  11,  12;  and  3  :  19,  20  ; 
Rom.  8:9;  Phil.  3  :  7-10  ;  Gal.  2  :  20  ; 
John,  15  :  2-4 ;  1  Cor.  1  :  20  ;  2  :  2. 

You  see  now,  in  plain  terms  from  the  Word 
of  God,  who  are  the  wicked  and  who  are 
the  converted.  Ignorant  people  think  that 
if  a  man  be  no  swearer,  nor  curser,  nor  rail- 
er,  nor  drunkard,  nor  fornicator,  nor  extor- 
tioner, nor  wrong  any  body  in  his  dealings, 
and  if  he  come  to  church  and  say  his  pray- 
ers, he  cannot  be  a  wicked  man.  Or  if  a 
man  that  hath  been  guilty  of  drunkenness, 
swearing,  or  gaming,  or  the  like  vices,  do 
but  forbear  them  for  the  time  to  come,  they 
think  that  this  is  a  converted  man.  Others 
think  if  a  man  that  hath  been  an  enemy,  and 
scorner  at  godliness,  do  but  approve  it,  and 


Doct.  1.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  55 

join  himself  lo  those  that  arc  godly,  and  be 
hated  for  it  by  the  wieked,  as  the  godly  are, 
that  this  must  needs  be  a  converted  man. 
And  some  are  so  foolish  as  to  think  that  they 
are  converted  by  taking  up  some  new  uud 
false  opinion,  and  falling  into  some  dividing 
party.  And  some  think,  if  they  have  but 
been  affrighted  by  the  fears  of  hell,  and  had 
convictions  of  conscience,  and  thereupon 
have  purposed  and  promised  amendment, 
and  taken  up  a  life  of  civil  behavior  and 
outward  religion,  that  this  must  needs  be 
true  conversion.  And  these  are  the  poor  de- 
luded souls  that  are  like  to  lose  the  benefit 
of  all  our  persuasions ;  and  when  they  hear 
that  the  wicked  must  turn  or  die,  they  think 
that  this  is  not  spoken  to  them,  for  they  are  not 
wicked,  but  are  turned  already.  And  there- 
fore it  is  that  Christ  told  some  of  the  rulers 
of  the  Jews  who  were  more  grave  and  civil 
than  the  common  people,  that  "  publicans 
and  harlots  go  into  the  kingdom  of  God  be- 
fore them."  Matt.  21  :  31.  Not  that  a  har- 
lot or  gross  sinner  can  be  saved  without  con- 
version ;  but  because  it  was  easier  to  make 
these  gross  sinners  perceive  their  sin  and 
misery,  and  the  necessity  of  a  change,  than 


56  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  1. 

the  more  civil  sort,  who  delude  tnemselves 
by  thinking  that  they  are  converted  already, 
when  they  are  not. 

O  sirs,  conversion  is  another  kind  of  work 
than  most  are  aware  of.  It  is  not  a  small 
matter  to  bring  an  earthly  mind  to  heaven, 
and  to  show  man  the  amiable  excellence  of 
God,  till  he  be  taken  up  in  such  love  to 
him  as  can  never  be  quenched  ;  to  break  the 
heart  for  sin,  and  make  him  flv  for  refugee 
to  Christ,  and  thankfully  embrace  him  as 
the  life  of  his  soul ;  to  have  the  very  drift 
and  bent  of  the  heart  and  life  changed  ;  so 
that  a  man  renounceth  that  which  he  took 
for  his  felicity,  and  placeth  his  felicity  where 
he  never  did  before,  and  lives  not  to  the 
same  end,  and  drives  not  on  the  same  de- 
sijrn  in  the  world,  as  he  formerlv  did.  In  a 
word  he  that  is  in  Christ  is  a  "  hew  crea- 
ture :  old  things  are  passed  away:  behold, 
all  things  are  become  new."  2  Cor.  5  :  17. 
He  hath  a  new  understanding,  a  new  will 
and  resolution,  new  sorrows,  and  desires, 
and  love,  and  delight ;  new  thoughts,  new 
speeches,  new  company  (if  possible,)  and  a 
new  conversation.  Sin,  that  before  was  a 
jesting  matter  with  him,  is  now  so  odious  and 


Doct.  1.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  57 

terrible  to  liim  tliat  lie  flics  from  it  as  from 
death.     The  world,  that  was  so  lovelv  in  his 
eyes,  doth  now   appear  but  as  vanity  and 
vexation:  God,  that  was  before  neglected,  is 
now  the  only  happiness  of  his  soul,  before, 
he  was  forgotten,  and  every  lust  preferred 
before  him  ;  but  now  he  is  set  next  the  heart, 
and  all  things  must  give  place  to  him  ;  the 
heart  is  taken  up  in  the  attendance  and  ob- 
servance of  him,  is  grieved  when  he  hides 
his  face,  and  never  thinks  itself  well  without 
him.     Christ  himself,  that  was  wont  to  bo 
shghtly  thought  of,  is  now  his  only  hope  and 
refuge,  and  he  lives  upon  him  as  on  his  daily 
bread  ;  he  cannot  pray  without  him,  nor  re- 
joice without  him,  nor  think,  nor  speak,  nor 
live  without  him.    Heaven  itself,  that  before 
was  looked  upon  but  as  a  tolerable  reserve, 
which  he  hoped  might  serve  his  turn  better 
than  hell  when  he  could  not  stay  any  loncrer 
in  the  world,  is  now  taken  for  his  home,  the 
place  of  his  only  hope  and   rest,  where  lio 
shall  see,  and  love,  and  praise  that  God  who 
hath  his  heart  already.    Hell,  that  did  seem 
before  but  as  a  bugbear  to  frighten  men  from 
sin,  doth  now  appear  to  be  a  real  misery  that 
is  not  to   be   ventured   on   nor  jested   wiih. 


r)S  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  1. 

The  works  of  holiness,  of  which  before  he 
was  wear}^,  and  which  he  thought  unneces- 
sary, are  now  both  his  recreationand  his  bu- 
siness.   The  Bible,  which  was  before  to  him 
but  almost  as  a  common  book,  is  now  as  the 
law  of  God  ;  as  a  letter  written  to  him  from 
heaven  and  subscribed  with  the  name  of  the 
Eternal  Majesty;  it  is  the  rule  of  his  thoughts, 
nnd  words,  and  deeds;  the  commands  are 
binding,   the  threats  are  dreadful,   and  the 
promises  of  it  speak  life  to  his   soul.     The 
godly,  that   seemed  to  him  but  like  other 
men,  are  now  the  most  excellent  and  happy 
on  earth.  And  the  wicked  that  were  his  play- 
fellows are  now  his  o-rief;  and  he  that  could 
laugh  at  their  sins  is  more  ready  now  to  weep 
for  their  sin  and  miser}^,  and  to  say  with  those 
of  old,  (Psalm  16  :  3  ;  15  :  4;  Phil.  3  :  IS,) 
*'  But  to  the  saints  that  are  in  the  earth,  and 
to  the  excellent,  in  whom  is  all  my  dehght." 
"  In  whose  eyes  a  vile  person  is  contemned; 
but  he  honoreth  them  that  fear  the  Lord  :  he 
that  sweareth  to  his  own  hurt,  and  changeth 
not."     "  For   many  walk    of  whom  I  have 
told  you  often,  and  now  tell  you,  even  weep- 
ing, that  they  are  the  enemies  of  the  cross  of 
Christ." 


Doct.  1.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  59 

In  short,  he  hath  a  new  end  in  his  thoughts, 
and  a  new  way  in  his  endeavors,  and  there- 
fore his  heart  and  liih  are  new.  Before,  his 
carnal  self  was  his  end,  and  his  pleasure 
and  worldly  profit  and  credit  were  his  way ; 
and  now  God  and  everlasting  glory  are  his 
end,  and  Christ,  and  the  Spirit,  and  word, 
and  ordinances ;  holiness  to  God,  and  righ- 
teousness and  mercy  to  men,  these  are  his 
way.  Before,  self  was  the  chief  ruler,  to 
which  the  matters  of  God  and  conscience 
must  stoop  and  give  place;  and  now  God,  in 
Christ,  by  the  Spirit,  word  and  ministry,  is 
the  chief  ruler,  to  whom  both  self  and  all 
the  matters  of  self  must  give  place.  So  that 
this  is  not  a  change  in  one,  or  two,  or  twen- 
ty points,  but  in  the  whole  soul,  and  in  the 
very  end  and  bent  of  the  conversation.  A 
man  may  step  out  of  one  path  into  another, 
and  yet  have  his  face  the  same  wa}'-,  and  be 
still  going  towards  the  same  place  ;  but  it 
is  another  matter  to  turn  quite  back,  and 
take  his  journey  quite  the  contrary  way,  to 
a  contrary  place.  So  it  is  here  :  a  man  may 
turn  from  drunkenness,  and  forsake  other 
gross  disgraceful  sins,  and  set  upon  some  du- 
ties of  religion,  and  yet  be  still  going  to  the 


60  A    CALL    TO  Doct.  1 

same  end  as  before,  loving  his  carnal  self 
above  all,  and  giving  it  still  the  government 
of  his  soul ;  but  when  he  is  converted,  this 
self  is  denied  and  taken  down,  and  God  is 
set  up,  and  his  face  is  turned  the  contrary 
way;  and  he  that  before  was  addicted  to 
himself,  and  lived  to  himself,  is  now,  by 
sanctification,  devoted  to  God,  and  livelh 
unto  God.  Before,  he  asked  himself  what 
he  should  do  with  his  time,  his  talents,  and 
his  estate,  and  for  himself  he  used  them; 
but  now  he  asketh  God  what  he  shall  do 
with  them,  and  useth  them  for  him.  Before, 
he  would  please  God  so  far  as  might  accord 
with  the  pleasure  of  his  flesh  and  carnal 
self,  but  not  to  any  great  displeasure  of 
them;  but  now  he  will  please  God,  let  flesh 
and  self  be  never  so  much  displeased.  This 
is  the  great  change  that  God  will  make  upon 
all  that  shall  be  saved. 

You  can  say  that  the  Holy  Ghost  is  our 
sanctifier;  but  do  3'ou  know  what  sanctifi- 
cation is  ?  Why,  tliis  is  what  I  have  now 
opened  to  you ;  and  every  man  and  woman 
in  the  world  must  have  this,  or  be  condemn- 
ed to  everlasting  misery.  The}'  must  turn 
or  die. 


Doct.  1.)  THE    UNCOiWF.IlTED.  CI 

Do  you  believe  all  lljis,  sirs,  or  do  you 
not?  Surely  you  dare  not  say  you  do  not; 
lor  it  is  past  all  doubt  or  denial.  These  are 
not  controversies,  wliere  one  learned  pious 
man  is  of  one  mind  and  another  of  another  ; 
Avhere  one  party  saith  this,  and  the  other 
saith  that.  Every  sect  among  us  that  de- 
serve to  be  called  christians  are  all  agreed 
in  this  that  I  have  said  ;  and  if  you  will  not 
believe  the  God  of  truth,  and  that  in  a  case 
Avhere  every  sect  and  party  do  believe  him, 
3'ou  are  utterly  inexcusable. 

But  if  you  do  believe  this,  how  comes  it 
to  pass  that  you  live  so  quietly  in  an  uncon- 
verted state  ?  Do  you  think  that  you  are 
converted  ?  and  can  you  find  this  wonderful 
change  upon  your  souls  ?  Have  you  been 
thus  born  again,  and  made  new?  Are  not 
these  strange  matters  to  many  of  you,  and 
such  as  you  never  felt  within  yoursehcs? 
you  cannot  tell  the  day  or  week  of  your 
change,  or  the  very  sermon  that  converted 
you,  yet  do  you  find  that  the  work  is  done, 
that  such  a  change  indeed  there  is,  and  that 
you  have  such  hearts  as  are  before  describ- 
ed ?  Alas  !  the  most  follow  their  worldly 
business,  and  little  trouble  their  minds  with 

B.  GaU.  ^ 


02  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  1. 

such  thoughts.  And  if  they  be  but  restrained 
from  scandalous  sins,  and  can  say,  "I  am 
no  whore-monger,  nor  thief,  nor  curser,  nor 
swearer,  nor  tippler,  nor  extortioner;  I  go 
to  church,  and  say  m3^  prayers;"  they  think 
that  this  is  true  conversion,  and  that  they 
shall  be  saved  as  well  as  an3^  Alas  !  this  is 
foolish  cheating  of  yourselves.  This  is  too 
much  contempt  of  an  endless  glory,  and  too 
gross  neglect  of  j^our  immortal  souls.  Can 
you  make  so  light  of  heaven  and  hell  ? 

Your  bod3^  will  shordy  lie  in  the  dust,  and 
angels  or  devils  will  presently  seize  upon 
your  souls ;  and  every  man  or  woman  of 
3'ou  all  will  shortly  be  among  other  com- 
pany, and  in  another  case  than  now  you  are. 
You  Vvdll  dwell  in  these  houses  but  a  little 
longer;  3'ou  will  work  in  ^^our  shops  and 
fields  but  a  little  longer;  3'ou  will  sit  in 
these  seats  and  dwell  on  this  earth  but  a  lit- 
tle longer ;  you  will  see  with  these  e3^es,  and 
hear  with  these  ears,  and  speak  with  these 
tongues  but  a  little  longer,  till  the  resurrec- 
tion-day ;  and  can  you  make  shift  to  forget 
this  ?  O  what  a  place  will  }^ou  shortly  be  in 
of  joy  or  torment !  O  what  a  sight  will  you 
shortly    see   in   heaven    or    hell !    O   what 


Doct.  I.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  C3 

thoughts  will  shortly  fill  your  hearts  with  un- 
speakable dehght  or  liorror  !  What  work  will 
you  be  employetl  in  !  to  praise  the  Lord  with 
saints  and  angels,  or  to  cry  out  in  fire  un- 
quenchable with  devils ;  and  should  all  this 
be  foi'gotten  ?  And  all  this  will  be  endless, 
and  sealed  up  by  an  unchangeable  decree. 
Eternity,,  eternity  will  be  the  measure  ot" 
your  joys  or  sorrows  :  and  can  this  be  forgot- 
ten "?  And  all  this  is  true,  sirs,  most  certain- 
ly true.  When  you  have  gone  up  and  down 
a  little  longer,  and  slept  and  awaked  a  few 
times  more,  you  will  be  dead  and  gone,  and 
find  all  true  that  now  I  tell  you  :  and  yet  can 
you  now  so  much  forget  it?  You  shall  then 
remember  that  you  had  this  call,  and  that,, 
this  day,  in  this  place,  you  were  reminded  of 
these  things,  and  you  will  perceive  them  to  bo 
matters  a  thousand  times  more  important  than 
either  you  or  I  could  here  conceive ;  and  vet 
shall  they  be  now  so  much  ibrgottcn  ? 

Beloved  friends,  if  the  Lord  had  not 
awakened  me  to  believe  and  lay  to  heart 
these  things  myself,  I  should  have  remained 
in  a  dark  and  selfish  state,  and  have  perished 
I'or  ever  ;  but  if  he  have  truly  made  me  sen- 
sible of  them,  it  will  constrain  me  tocompas- 


64  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  1. 

sionate  you  as  well  as  myself.  If  your  eyes 
were  so  far  opened  as  to  see  hell,  and  you  saw 
your  neighbors  that  were  unconverted  drag- 
ged thither  with  hideous  cries  :  though  they 
were  such  as  you  accounted  honest  people 
on  earth,  and  as  feared  no  such  danger  them- 
selves ;  such  a  sight  would  make  you  go 
home  and  think  of  it,  and  think  again,  and 
make  you  warn  all  about  you,  as  that  lost 
worldhng,  Luke,  16  :  28,  would  have  had  his 
brethren  warned,  lest  they  come  to  that 
place  of  torment. 

Faith  is  a  kind  of  sio;ht ;  it  is  the  eve  of 
the  soul,  the  evidence  of  things  not  seen. 
If  I  believe  God,  it  is  next  to  seeing;  and 
therefore,  I  beseech  you,  excuse  me  if  I  be 
half  as  earnest  with  you  about  these  mat- 
ters as  if  I  had  seen  them.  If  I  must  die 
to-morrow,  and  it  were  in  my  power  to 
come  again  from  another  world  and  tell 
you  what  I  had  seen,  would  you  not  be 
willing  to  hear  me  ?  and  would  you  not  be- 
lieve and  regard  what  I  should  tell  you  ?  If 
I  might  preach  one  sermon  to  you  after  I  am 
dead,  and  have  seen  what  is  done  in  the 
world  to  come,  would  you  not  have  me 
plainly  speak  the  truth,  and  would   you  not 


Doct.  1.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  65 

crowd  to  hear  me,  and  would  you  not  lay  it 
lo  heart?  But  this  must  not  he;  God  hath 
his  appointed  \Vc\y  of  teaching  you  by  Scrip- 
ture and  ministers,  and  he  will  not  humor 
unbelievers  so  far  as  to  send  men  irom  the 
dead  to  them  and  alter  his  established  way  : 
if  any  man  quarrel  with  the  sun,  God  will  not 
liumor  him  so  far  as  to  set  up  a  clearer  light. 
Friends,  I  beseech  you,  regard  me  now  as  you 
would  do  if  1  should  come  from  the  dend  to 
you  ;  for  I  can  give  you  as  full  assurance  of 
the  truth  of  what  1  say  to  you  as  if  I  had 
])een  there  and  seen  it  with  my  eyes  :  it  is 
possible  for  one  from  the  dead  to  deceive 
you;  l)ut  Jesus  Christ  can  never  deceive 
you ;  the  Word  of  God  delivered  in  Scrip- 
ture, and  sealed  by  miracles  and  holy  work- 
ings of  the  Spirit,  can  never  deceive  you. 
Believe  this,  or  believe  nothing.  Believe  and 
obey  this,  or  you  are  undone. 

Now,  as  ever  vou  believe  the  word  of  God, 
and  as  ever  you  care  for  the  salvation  of  your 
souls,  let  me  beg  of  you  this  reasonable  re- 
quest, and  I  beseech  you  deny  me  not:  That 
you  would  now  remember  what  has  been 
said,  and  enter  into  an  earnest  search  of  your 
hearts,  and  say  to  yourselves — Is  it  so  in- 


66  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.1. 

deed ;  must  I  turn  or  die  ?  Must  I  be  con- 
verted or  condemned  ?  It  is  time  for  me  then 
to  look  about  me  before  it  be  too  late.  O 
why  did  I  not  look  after  this  before  now? 
Why  did  I  venturously  put  off  or  slumber 
over  so  great  a  business  ?  Was  I  awake,  or 
in  my  senses  ?  O  blessed  God,  what  a  mer- 
cy is  it  that  thou  didst  not  cut  off  my  life  all 
this  while,  before  I  had  any  certain  hope  of 
eternal  life  ! 

God  forbid  that  I  should  neglect  this  work 
any  longer.  What  state  is  my  soul  in  ?  Am 
I  converted,  or  am  I  not  ?  Was  ever  such  a 
change  or  work  done  upon  my  soul  ?  Have 
I  been  illuminated  by  the  word  and  Spirit 
of  the  Lord  to  see  the  odiousness  of  sin,  the 
need  of  a  Savior,  the  love  of  Christ,  and  the 
excellences  of  God  and  glory  ?  Is  my  heart 
broken  or  humbled  within  me  for  my  former 
life  ?  Have  I  thankfully  entertained  my  Sa- 
vior and  Lord  that  offered  himself  with  par- 
don and  life  for  my  soul?  Do  I  hate  my 
former  sinful  life  and  the  remnant  of  every 
sin  that  is  in  me  ?  Do  I  fly  from  them  as  my 
deadly  enemies  ?  Do  I  give  up  myself  to  a 
life  of  holiness  and  obedience  to  God  ?  Do 
I  love  it  and  delight  in  it?    Can  I  truly  say 


Doct.  1,)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  67 

that  I  am  dead  to  the  world  and  carnal  self, 
and  that  I  live  for  God  and  the  glory  which 
he  hath  promised  ?  Hath  heaven  more  of 
my  esteem  and  affection  than  earth  ?  And  is 
God  the  dearest  and  highest  in  my  soul  ? 
Once,  I  am  sure,  I  lived  principally  to  the 
world  and  flesh,  and  God  had  nothing  but 
seme  heartless  services,  which  the  world 
could  spare,  and  which  were  the  leavings  of 
the  flesh.  Is  my  heart  now  turned  another 
way?  Have  I  a  new  design  and  a  new  end, 
and  a  new  train  of  holy  aflections  ?  Have  I 
set  my  hope  and  heart  in  heaven  ?  And  is  it 
the  scope,  and  design,  and  bent  of  my  heart 
to  get  well  to  heaven,  and  see  the  glorious 
face  of  God,  and  live  in  his  everlasting  love 
and  praise  ?  And  when  I  sin,  is  it  against 
the  habitual  bent  and  design  of  my  heart? 
And  do  I  conquer  all  gross  sins,  and  am  I 
weary  and  willing  to  be  rid  of  my  inflrmi- 
ties  ?  This  is  the  state  of  converted  souls. 
And  thus  it  must  be  with  me,  or  I  must  per- 
ish. Is  it  thus  with  me  indeed,  or  is  it  not? 
It  is  time  to  get  this  doubt  resolved,  before 
the  dreadful  Judge  resolve  it.  I  am  not  such 
a  stranger  to  my  own  heart  and  life,  but  I 
may  somewhat  perceive  whether  I  am  thus 


68  A    GALL    TO  (Doctl, 

converted  or  not ;  if  I  be  not,  it  \YiIl  do  nie 
no  ^GTOod  to  Hatter  my  soul  with  false  conceits' 
and  hopes.  I  ain  resolved  no  more  to  de- 
ceive myself,  but  endeavor  to  know  truly 
whether  I  be  converted  or  not :  that  if  I  be, 
I  may  rejoice  in  it,  and  glorify  my  gracious 
Lord,  and  comfortably  go  on  till  I  reach  the 
crov/n  :  and  if  I  am  not,  that  I  may  set  my- 
self to  beg  and  seek  after  the  grace  that 
should  convert  me,  and  may  turn  without 
an}'  more  delay.  For,  if  I  find  in  time  that 
I  am  out  of  the  way,  by  the  help  of  Christ 
I  may  turn  and  be  recovered  ;  but  if  I  stay 
till  either  my  heart  be  forsaken  of  God  in 
blindness  and  hardness,  or  till  I  be  snatched 
away  by  death,  it  is  then  too  late.  There  is 
no  place  for  repentance  and  conversion  then  : 
I  know  it  must  be  now  or  never. 

Sirs,  this  is  my  request  to  you,  that  you 
will  but  take  vour  hearts  to  task,  and  thus 
examine  them  till  you  see,  if  it  may  be, 
whether  you  are  converted  or  not  ?  And  if 
you  cannot  find  it  out  by  your  own  endea- 
vors, go  to  your  ministers,  if  they  be  faithful 
and  experienced  men,  and  desire  their  as- 
sistance. The  matter  is  great ;  let  not  bash- 
fulness  nor  carelessness  hinder  you.    They 


Doct.  L)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  69 

are  set  over  you  to  advise  3'OU  for  the  sav- 
ing of  your  souls,  as  physicians  advise  you 
for  the  curing  of  your  bodies.  It  undoes 
many  tliousands  that  they  think  they  are  in 
the  way  to  salvation  when  they  are  not ;  and 
think  that  thev  are  converted  when  it  is  no 
such  thing.  And  then  when  we  call  to  them 
daily  to  turn,  they  go  away  as  they  came, 
and  think  that  this  concerns  not  them  ;  for 
they  are  turned  already,  and  hope  they  shall 
<lo  well  enough  in  the  way  that  they  are  in, 
at  least  if  they  pick  the  fairest  path,  and 
avoid  some  of  the  foulest  steps,  when,  alas  ! 
all  this  while  they  live  but  to  the  world  and 
flesh,  and  are  strangers  to  God  and  eternal 
life;  and  are  quite  out  of  the  way  to  heaven. 
And  all  this  because  we  cannot  persuade 
them  to  a  few  serious  thoughts  of  their  con- 
dition,  and  to  spend  a  few  hours  in  llie  ex- 
amining of  their  states. 

Are  there  not  many  self-deceivers  who 
hear  me  this  dav,  that  never  bestowed  one 
hour,  or  quarter  of  an  hour,  in  all  their  lives, 
to  examine  their  souls,  and  try  whcdier  they 
are  truly  converted  or  not  V  O  merciful  God, 
that  will  care  for  such  wretches  that  care  no 
iuore  for  themselves,  and  that  will  do  so  much 


70  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  1. 

to  save  them  from  hell  and  help  them  to  hea- 
ven, who  will  do  so  little  for  it  themselves  ! 
If  all  that  are  in  the  wav  to  he.l  and  in  the 
state  of  damnation  did  but  know  it,  they 
durst  not  continue  in  it.  The  greatest  hope 
that  the  devil  hath  of  brinoino:  vou  to  dam- 
nation  without  a  rescue,  is  by  keeping  you 
blindfold  and  ignorant  of  your  state,  and 
making  3^ou  believe  that  you  may  do  well 
enou2:h  in  the  way  that  vou  are  in.  If  vou 
knew  that  3'ou  were  out  of  the  w^ay  to  hea- 
ven, and  were  lost  for  ever  if  3^au  should  die 
as  you  are,  durst  you  sleep  another  night  in 
the  state  that  3'ou  are  in?  Durst  you  live  an- 
other day  in  it  ?  Could  you  heartily  laus^h  or 
be  merry  in  such  a  state  ?  What !  and  not 
know  but  3-0U  may  be  snatched  away  to  hell 
in  an  hour?  Sure  it  would  constrain  3'ou  to 
forsake  your  former  company  and  courses, 
and  to  betake  yourselves  to  the  ways  of  ho- 
liness and  the  communion  of  the  saints.  Sure 
it  would  drive  you  to  cry  to  God  for  a  new 
heart,  and  to  seek  help  of  those  that  are  fit 
to  counsel  you.  There  are  none  of  yoxx  sure- 
ly that  care  not  for  Ix^ing  damned.  Well, 
then,  I  beseech  3^ou,  presently  make  inquiry 
into  3'our  hearts,  and  give  them  no  rest  till 


Doct  1.)  THE    UNCOxWERTED,  7f 

you  find  out  your  condition,  that  if  it  be  good, 
you  may  rejoice  in  it,  and  go  on ;  and  if  it 
be  bad,  you  may  presently  look  about  you 
for  recovery,  as  men  that  believe  they  must 
turn  or  die.  What  say  you,  sirs,  will  you  re- 
solve and  promise  to  be  at  thus  much  labor 
for  your  own  souls  ?  Will  you  now  enter 
upon  this  self-examination?  Is  my  request 
unreasonable  ?  Your  consciences  know  it  is 
not.  Resolve  on  it,  then,  before  you  stir; 
knowing  how  much  it  concerneth  your  souls. 
I  beseech  you,  for  the  sake  of  that  God  that 
doth  command  you,  at  whose  bar  you  will 
all  shortly  appear,  that  you  do  not  deny  me 
this  reasonable  request.  For  the  sake  of 
those  souls  that  must  turn  or  die,  I  beseech 
you  deny  me  not;  but  make  it  your  business 
to  understand  your  own  condition  and  build 
upon  sure  ground,  and  know  whether  you 
are  converted  or  not ;  and  venture  not  your 
souls  on  negligent  security. 

But  perhaps  you  will  say,  "What  if  we 
should  find  ourselves  yet  unconverted,  what 
shall  we  do  then?"  This  question  leads 
me  to  my  second  Doctrine,  which  will  do 
much  to  the  answering  of  it,  to  which  I 
now  proceed* 


72  A    CALL    TO  (Docta. 

DOCTRINE   IL 

It  is  the  promise  of  God,  that  the  nncked  shall  live^ 
ifthei/  zcitl  but  turn — unfeignedly  and  thormigh- 

ly  tUTTli 

The  Lord  here  professeth  that  this  is  what 
he  takes  pleasure  in,  that  the  wicked  turn 
and  hve.  Heaven  is  made  as  sure  to  the 
<'onverted,  as  hell  is  to  the  UTK'onveited. 
Turn  and  live,  is  as  certain  a  truth  as  turn 
or  die.  God  was  not  bound  to  provide  us  a 
Savior,  nor  open  to  us  a  door  ot"  liope,  nor 
call  us  to  repent  and  turn,  when  once  we 
had  cast  ourselves  away  by  sin.  But  he  hath 
freely  done  it  to  magnify  his  mercy.  Sinners, 
there  are  none  of  you  that  sliall  have  cause  to 
go  home  and  say  I  preach  desperation  to  \^ou. 
Do  we  use  to  shut  the  door  of  mercy  aojainst 
you  ?  O  tliat  you  would  not  shut  it  against 
yourselves !  Do  we  use  to  tell  you  that  God 
will  have  no  mercy  on  you,  though  you  turn 
and  be  sanctified?  When  did  you  ever  hear 
a  preacher  say  such  a  word  ?  You  that  cavil 
at  the  preachers  of  the  Gospel  for  desiring 
to  keep  you  out  of  hell,  and  say  that  they 


Doct.  2.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  73 

preach  desperation ;  tell  me,  if  you  can» 
when  did  3'ou  ever  hear  any  sober  man  say 
that  there  is  no  hope  lor  you,  though  you  re- 
pent and  be  converted  ?  No,  it  is  the  direct 
contrary  that  we  daily  proclaim  from  the 
Lord :  that  whoever  is  born  again,  and  by 
faith  and  repentance  doth  become  a  new 
creature,  shall  certainly  be  saved ;  and  so 
far  are  we  from  persuading  you  to  despair 
of  this,  that  w^e  persuade  you  not  to  make 
any  doubt  of  it.  It  is  life,  not  death,  that  is 
the  first  part  of  our  message  to  you  ;  our  com- 
mission io  to  offer  salvation,  certain  salva- 
tion ;  a  speedy,  glorious,  everlasting  salva- 
tion to  every  one  of  you ;  to  the  poorest  beg- 
gar as  well  as  the  greatest  lord  ;  to  the  worst 
of  you,  even  to  drunkards,  swearers,  world- 
lings, thieves,  yea,  to  the  despisers  and  re- 
proachers  of  the  holy  way  of  salvation. 

We  are  commanded  by  our  Lord  and 
.blaster  to  offer  you  a  pardon  for  all  that  is 
yxTSt,  if  you  will  but  now  at  last  return  and 
live  ;  vve  are  commanded  to  beseech  and  en- 
treat you  to  accept  the  offer,  and  return  ;  to 
tell  you  what  preparation  is  made  by  Christ , 
what  mercy  stays  for  you  ;  what  patience 
waiteth  on  you  ;  what  thoughts  of  kindness 

B.  Call.  7 


71  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.2. 

God  hath  toward  you ;  and  how  happy,  how 
certainly  and  unspeakably  happ}^  you  may 
be  if  you  will.  We  have  indeed  also  a  mes- 
sage of  wrath  and  death,  yea,  of  a  twofold 
wrath  and  death  ;  but  neither  of  them,  is  our 
principal  message.  We  must  tell  you  of  the 
wrath  that  is  on  you  already,  and  the  death 
that  you  are  born  under,  for  the  breach  of 
the  law  of  works  ;  but  this  is  only  to  show 
you  the  need  of  mercy,  and  to  provoke  you 
to  esteem  the  grace  of  the  Redeemer.  And 
we  tell  3'ou  nothing  but  the  truth,  which  you 
must  know;  for  who  w^ill  seek  for  physic 
that  knows  not  that  he  is  sick  ?  Our  telling 
3''ou  of  3^our  miser}^  is  not  that  which  makes 
3^ou  miserable,  but  would  drive  you  to  seek 
for  mercy.  It  is  you  that  have  brought  this 
death  upon  yourselves.  We  tell  you  also  ot 
another  death,  even  remediless,  and  much 
greater  torment,  that  will  fall  on  those  who 
will  not  be  converted. 

But  as  this  is  true,  and  must  be  told  you, 
so  it  is  but  the  last  and  saddest  part  of  our 
message.  We  are  first  to  offer  3^ou  mercy, 
if  you  will  turn  ;  and  it  is  only  those  that 
will  not  turn,  nor  hear  the  voice  of  mercy, 
to  whom  we  must  foretell  damnation.  If  you 


Docl.2.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  75 

will  but  cast  away  your  transgressions,  if 
you  will  delay  no  longer,  but  come  away  at 
the  call  of  Christ,  and  be  converted,  and  be- 
come new  creatures,  we  have  not  a  word  ot* 
damning  wrath  or  death  to  speak  against 
vou.  I  do  here,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  of 
Life,  proclaim  to  you  all  that  hear  me  this 
day,  to  the  worst  of  you,  to  the  greatest,  to 
the  oldest  sinner,  that  you  may  have  mercy 
and  salvation,  if  you  will  but  turn.  There  is 
mercy  in  God,  there  is  sufficiency  in  the  sat- 
isfaction of  Christ,  the  promise  is  free,  and 
full,  and  universal;  you  may  have  life,  if 
you  will  but  turn.  But  then,  as  you  love 
your  souls,  remember  what  turning  it  is  that 
the  Scripture  speaks  of.  It  is  not  to  mend 
the  old  house,  but  to  pull  down  all,  and 
build  anew  on  Christ,  the  Rock  and  sure 
foundation.  It  is  not  to  mend  somewhat  in 
a  carnal  course  of  life,  but  to  mortify  the 
flesh  and  live  after  the  Spirit.  It  is  not  to 
serve  the  flesh  and  the  world  in  a  more  re- 
formed way,  without  any  scandalous  dis- 
graceful sins,  and  with  a  certain  kind  of 
religiousness ;  but  it  is  to  change  your  mas- 
ter, and  your  works,  and  end  ;  and  to  set 
3^our  face  the  contrary  way,  and  do  all  for 


7()  A    CALL    TO  (D;5rt.  2. 

the  life  tnat  you  never  saw,  and  dedicate 
yourselves  and  all  j^ou  have  to  God.  This 
is  the  change  that  must  be  made,  if  you 
w'lU  live. 

Yourselves  are  witnesses  now,  that  it  is 
salvation,  and  not  damnation,  that  is  the 
great  doctrine  I  preach  to  you,  and  the  first 
part  of  my  message  to  you.  Accept  of  this, 
and  we  shall  2:0  no  farther  with  you ;  for  we 
would  not  so  much  as  affright  or  trouble 
you  with  the  name  of  damnation  without 
necessity. 

But  if  you  will  not  be  saved,  there  is  no 
remedy,  but  damnation  must  take  place  ; 
for  there  is  no  middle  place  between  the 
two  ;  you  must  have  either  life  or  death. 

And  we  are  not  only  to  offer  you  life,  but 
to  show  you  the  grounds  on  which  we  do  it, 
and  call  you  to  believe  that  God  doth  mean, 
indeed,  as  he  speaks  ;  that  the  promise  is 
true,  and  extendeth  conditionally  to  you,  as 
well  as  others  ;  and  that  heaven  is  no  fancy, 
but  a  true  felicity. 

If  you  ask.  Where  is  our  commission  for 
this  offer?  Among  a  hundred  texts  of  Scrip- 
ture, I  will  shov/  it  to  you  in  these  few* : 

You  see  it  here  in  my  text  and  the  follow^ 


Doct.2.)         THE  UNCONVERTED.  77 

ing  verses,  and  in  the  ISth  of  Ezekiel,  as 
plain  as  can  be  spoken  ;  and  in  2  Cor.  5  : 
17-21,  you  have  the  very  sum  of  our  commis- 
sion :  "If  anv  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new 
creature :  old  things  are  passed  away ;  be- 
hold, all  things  are  become  new.  And  all 
things  are  of  God,  who  hath  reconciled  us  to 
himself  by  Jesus  Christ,  and  hath  given  to 
us  the  ministry  of  reconciliation  ;  to  wit,  that 
God  was  in  Christ  reconciling  the, world  un- 
to himself,  not  imputing  their  trespasses  to 
them,  and  hath  committed  unto  us  the  word 
of  reconciliation.  Now  then,  we  are  ambas^ 
sadors  for  Christ,  as  though  God  did  beseech 
you  by  us:  we  pray  you  in  Christ's  stead, 
be  ye  reconciled  unto  God.  For  he  hath 
made  him  to  be  sin  for  us,  who  knew  no  sin  ; 
that  we  might  be  made  the  righteousness  of 
God  in  him."  So  Mark,  16  :  15,  16.  "  Go 
ye  into  all  the  world,  and  preach  the  Gospel 
to  every  creature.  He  that  believeth,"  (that 
is  with  such  a  converting  faith  as  is  express- 
ed,) "  and  is  baptized,  shall  be  saved  ;  and 
he  that  believeth  not  shall  be  damned." 
And  Luke,  24  :  46,  47:  "Thus  it  behoved 
Christ  to  suffer,  and  to  rise  from  the  dead 
the  third  day  ;  and  that  repentance  "  (which 


78  A    CALL    TO  (Doct  2- 

is  conv^ersion)  '*  and  remission  of  sins  should 
be  preached  in  his  name  among  all  nations." 
And  Acts,  5  :  30,  31,  "The  God  of  our  la- 
thers raised  up  Jesus,  whom  ye  slew,  and 
hanged  on  a  tree  :  him  hath  God  exalted 
with  his  right  hand,  to  be  a  Prince  and  a 
Savior,  to  give  repentance  to  Israel,  and  for- 
giveness of  sins."  And  Acts,  13  :  38,  39, 
"Be  it  known  unto  you  therefore,  men  and 
brethren,  that  through  this  man  is  preached 
unto  you  the  forgiveness  of  sins  ;  and  b}^  him 
all  that  believe  are  justified  from  all  things, 
from  which  ye  could  not  be  justified  by  the 
law  of  Moses."  And  lest  you  think  this  of- 
fer is  restrained  to  the  Jews,  see  Gal.  6  :  15, 
"For  in  Christ  Jesus,  neither  circumcision 
availeth  any  thing,  nor  uncircumcision,  but 
a  new  creature."  And  Luke,  14  :  17,  "  Come, 
for  all  things  are  now  ready." 

You  see  by  this  time  that  we  are  com- 
manded to  offer  life  to  you  all,  and  to  tell 
you  from  God,  that  if  you  will  turn,  you 
may  live. 

Here  you  may  safely  trust  your  souls  ; 
for  the  love  of  God  is  the  foundation  of  this 
ofier,  John,  3  :  16,  and  the  blood  of  the 
Son  of  God  hath  purchased  it;  the  faithful- 


Doct.  2.)  THE    U.VCONVERTED.  79 

ness  and  truth  of  God  is  engaged  to  make 
the  promise  good  ;  miracles  oft  sealed  the 
truth  of  it ;  preachers  are  sent  through  the 
world  to  proclaim  it ;  and  the  Spirit  doth 
open  the  heart  to  entertain  it,  and  is  itself 
the  earnest  of  the  full  possession  :  so  that  the 
truth  of  it  is  past  controversy,  that  the 
worst  of  you  all,  and  every  one  of  you,  if 
you  will  but  be  converted,  may  be  saved. 
Indeed,  if  5'ou  will  believe  that  you  shall 
be  saved  without  conversion,  then  you  be- 
lieve a  falsehood:  and  if  I  should  preach 
that  to  3^011,  I  should  preach  a  lie.  This  were 
not  to  believe  God,  but  the  devil  and  your 
own  deceitful  hearts.  God  hath  his  promise 
of  life,  and  the  devil  hath  his  promise  of  life. 
God's  promise  is,  Turn  and  live.  The  devil's 
promise  is.  You  shall  live  whether  you  turn 
or  not.  The  words  of  God  are,  as  I  have 
showed  you,  "  Except  ye  be  converted  and 
become  as  little  children,  ye  cannot  enter 
into  the  kingdom  of  heaven."  Matt.  18  :  3. 
"Except  a  man  be  born  again,  he  cannot 
enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God."  John,  3  :  3, 
5.  "Without  holiness  no  man  shall  see  the 
Lord.'.'  Heb.  12  :  14.  The  devil's  word  is, 
"You    may   be   saved   without    being   born 


so  A    CALL    TO  (Doeti 

again  and  converted  ;  you  may  get  to  heaven 
well  enough  without  being  holy,  God  doth 
but  frighten  you;  he  is  more  merciful  than 
to  do  as  he  saith,  he  will  be  better  to  you 
than  his  word."  And,  alas,  tlie  greatest  part 
of  the  world  believe  this  word  of  the  devil 
])efore  the  word  of  God ;  just  as  our  sin  and 
misery  first  came  into  the  world.  God  said 
to  our  first  parents,  "If  ye  eat  ye  shall  die;" 
and  the  devil  contradicted  him,  and  said, 
*' Ye  shall  not  die  :"  and  the  woman  believed 
the  devil  before  God.  So  now  the  Lord  saith, 
Turn  or  die  :  and  the  devil  saith.  You  shall 
not  die,  if  you  do  but  cry  for  God's  mercy  at 
last,  and  give  over  the  acts  of  sin  when  you 
can  practise  it  no  longer.  And  this  is  the 
word  that  the  world  believes.  O  heinous 
wickedness,  to  believe  the  devil  before  God. 
And  yet  that  is  not  the  worst ;  but  blas- 
phemously they  call  this  believing  and  trust- 
ing in  God,  when  they  put  him  in  the  shape 
of  Satan,  who  was  a  liar  from  the  beginning; 
and  when  they  believe  that  the  word  of  God 
is  a  lie,  they  call  this  trusting  God,  and  say 
they  believe  in  him,  and  trust  in  him  for  sal- 
vation. Where  did  ever  God  say  that  the  un- 
regenerate,  unconverted,  unsanctified,  shall 


Doct  2.)  THE    U.VCONVERTED.  81 

be  saved  ?  Show  me  such  a  word  in  Scrip- 
ture. I  challenge  3'ou  to  do  it.  Vv^hy  this  is 
the  devil's  word,  and  to  believe  it  is  to  be- 
lieve the  devil,  and  is  the  sin  that  is  common- 
Iv  called  presumption  ;  and  do  you  call  this 
believinc:  and  trusting:  in  God?  There  is 
enoucrh  in  the  word  ot"  God  to  comfort  and 
strengthen  the  hearts  of  the  sanctified,  bat 
not  a  word  to  strengthen  the  hands  of  wick- 
edness, nor  to  give  men  the  least  hope  of 
being  saved  though  they  be  never  sanctified. 
But  if  vou  will  turn,  and  come  into  the 
way  of  mercy,  the  mercy  of  the  Lord  is  ready 
to  entertain  you.  Then  trust  God  for  salva- 
tion, boldly  and  confidently ;  for  he  is  en- 
gaged by  his  word  to  save  you.  He  will  be 
a  father  to  none  but  his  children ;  and  he 
will  save  none  but  those  that  forsake  the 
world,  the  devil,  and  the  flesh,  and  come 
into  his  family  to  be  members  of  his  Son,  and 
have  communion  with  his  saints.  But  if 
thev  will  not  come  in,  it  is  the  fault  of  them- 
selves  :  his  doors  are  open ;  he  keeps  none 
back ;  he  never  sent  such  a  message  as  this 
to  any  of  you,  "It  is  now  too  late  ;  I  will  not 
receive  thee,  though  thou  be  converted."  He 
might  have  done  so  and  done  vou  no  wrong ; 


82  A    CALL    TO  (Docti 

but  he  did  not ;  he  doth  not  to  this  day.  He 
is  still  ready  to  receive  you,  if  you  were  but 
ready  unfeigned h^  and  with  all  your  hearts, 
to  turn.  And  the  fulness  of  this  truth  will  vet 
more  appear  in  the  two  following  doctrines, 
to  which  I  shall  therefore  next  proceed  be- 
fore I  make  any  further  application  of  this. 

__J___ 

DOCTRINE  III. 

God  taketh  pleasure  in  men^s  conversion  and  salvation^ 
hut  not  in  ilieir  death  or  damnation.  He  had  rather 
they  would  turn  and  live,  than  go  on  and  die. 

*'  The  Lord  is  long-suffering  to  us-ward," 
says  the  apostle,  "not  willing  that  any  should 
perish,  but  that  all  should  come  to  repent- 
ance." 2  Pet.  3:9.  He  unfeignedly  willeth 
the  conversion  of  all  men,  even  of  those  that 
never  will  be  converted,  but  not  as  absolute 
Lord  with  the  fullest  efficacious  resolution, 
nor  as  a  thing  which  he  resolveth  shall  un- 
doubtedly come  to  pass,  or  would  engage  all 
his  power  to  accomplish.  It  is  in  the  power 
of  a  prince  to  set  a  guard  upon  a  murderer, 
to  see  that  he  shall  not  murder,  and  be  hang- 


Doct.  3.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  83 

ed;  bat  if,  upon  good  reason,  he  forbear  this, 
and  do  but  send  to  his  subjects  to  warn  and 
entreat  them  not  to  be  murderers,  he  may 
well  say  that  he  would  not  have  them  mur- 
der and  be  hanged  ;  he  takes  no  pleasure  in 
it,  but  rather  that  tJiey  forbear  and  live,  and 
if  he  do  more  for  some  upon  some  special 
reason,  1#  i3  not  bound  to  do  so  by  all.  The 
king  may  well  say  to  all  murderers  and 
felons  in  the  land,  "I  have  no  pleasure  in 
3'our  death,  but  rather  that  you  would  obey 
my  laws  and  live  ;  but  if  you  will  not;  I  am 
resolved,  for  all  this,  that  3-ou  shall  die." 
The  judge  may  truly  say  to  the  murderer, 
*' Alas,  I  have  nodehght  in  thy  death  ;  I  had 
rather  thou  hadst  kept  the  law  and  saved 
thy  life  ;  but  seeing  thou  hast  not,  I  must 
condemn  thee,  or  else  I  should  be  unjust." 
So,  though  God  have  no  pleasure  in  your 
damnation,  and  therefore  calls  upon  you  to 
return  and  live,  yet  he  hath  pleasure  in  the 
demonstration  of  his  own  justice  and  the 
execution  of  his  laws ;  and  therefore  he  is, 
for  all  this,  fully  resolved,  that  if  you  will 
not  be  converted,  you  shall  be  condemned. 
If  God  was  so  much  against  the  death  of  the 
wicked  as  that  he  were  resolved  to  do  all 


84  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  3. 

that  he  can  to  hinder  it,  then  no  man  should 
be  condemned  ;  whereas  Christ  telleth  you, 
that  "  narrow  is  the  way  that  ieadeth  unto 
life,  and  few  there  be  that  find  it."  But  so 
far  God  is  opposed  to  your  damnation  as 
that  he  will  teach  3^ou,  and  warn  you,  and 
set  before  you  life  and  death,  and  offer  you 
your  choice,  and  command  his  ministers  to 
entreat  you  not  to  destroy  3^ourselves,  but 
accept  his  mercy,  and  so  to  leave  you  with- 
out excuse.  But  if  this  will  not  do,  and  if 
still  you  be  unconverted,  he  professeth  to 
vou  that  he  is  resolved  on  vour  damnation, 
and  hath  commanded  us  to  say  to  you  in  his 
name,  verse  S,  "  O  wicked  man,  tliou  shalt 
surely  die!"  And  Christ  hath  little  less  than 
sworn  it,  over  and  over,  with  a  '*  verily, 
verily,"  that  except  3'ou  be  converted  and 
born  again,  ye  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  hi^aven.  Matt.  IS  :  3  ;  John,  3  :  3.  Mark 
that  he  saith,  "you  cannot."  It  is  in  vain  to 
hope  for  it,  and  in  vain  to  dream  that  God  is 
willing  for  it ;  for  it  is  a  thing  that  cannot  be. 
In  a  word,  vou  see  the  meaniuG:  of  the 
text,  that  God,  the  great  Lawgiver  of  the 
world,  doth  take  no  pleasure  in  the  death  of 
the  wicked,  but  rather  that   tb.cv  turn  and 


Doct  3.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  85 

live;  though  yet  he  be  resolved  that  none 
shall  live  but  those  that  turn ;  and  as  a 
judge,  ever  delighteth  in  justice,  and  in 
manifestinor  his  hatred  of  sin,  thougjh  not  in 
the  misery  which  sinners  have  brought  upon 
themselves,  in  itself  considered. 

And  for  the  proofs  of  this  point,  I  shall  be 
very  brief  in  them,  because  I  suppose  you 
easily  believe  it  already. 

1.  The  very  gracious  nature  of  God  pro- 
claimed, Exod.  34:6,  7,  "And  the  Lord 
passed  by  before  him,  and  proclaimed.  The 
Lord,  the  Lord  God,  merciful  and  gracious, 

.long-suffering,  and  abundant  in  goodness  and 
truth,  keeping  mercy  for  thousands,  for- 
giving iniquity,  and  transgression,  and  sin, 
and  that  will  by  no  means  clear  the  guilty," 
and  many  other  passages  may  assure  you  of 
this,  that  he  hath  no  pleasure  in  your  death. 

2.  If  God  had  more  pleasure  in  thy  death 
than  in  thy  conversion  and  life,  he  would 
not  have  so  frequently  commanded  thee 
in  liis  word  to  turn  ;  he  would'  not  have 
made  thee  such  promises  of  life  if  thou  wilt 
but  turn  :  he  would  not  have  persuaded  thee 
to  it  by  so  many  reasons.  The  tenor  of  his 
Gospel  proveth  the  point. 

h.  CuU*  8 


86  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  3. 

3.  And  his  commission  that  he  hath  given 
to  the  ministers  of  the  Gospel  doth  fully 
prove  it.  If  God  had  taken  more  pleasure 
in  thy  damnation  than  in  thy  conversion  and 
salvation,  lie  would  never  have  charged  us 
to  offer  you  mercy,  and  to  teach  you  the 
way  of  life,  both  publicly  and  privately;  and 
to  entreat  and  beseech  3"ou  to  turn  and  live  ; 
to  acquaint  you  with  your  sins  and  foretell 
3^ou  of  3-our  danger;  and  to  do  ail  that  pos- 
sibly we  can  for  your  conversion,  and  to  con- 
tinue patiently  so  doing,  though  you  should 
hate  or  abuse  us  for  our  pains.  Would  God 
have  done  this,  and  appointed  his  ordinan- 
ces for  your  good,  if  he  had  taken  pleasure 
in  3^our  death  V 

4.  It  is  proved  also  by  the  course  of  his 
providence.  If  God  had  rather  you  Avere 
damned  than  converted  and  saved,  he  would 
not  second  his  word  with  his  works,  and  en- 
tice you  bv  his  daily  kindness  to  himself,  and 
arrive  you  all  the  mercies  of  this  life,  which 
are  means  "to  lead  you  to  repentance," 
Rom.  2  :  4,  and  bring  you  so  often  under  his 
rod,  to  bring  3^ou  to  3'our  senses ;  he  would  not 
set  so  man3'  examples  before  3^our  e3^es,  no, 
nor  wait  on  3'ou  so  patientl3^  as  he  does  from 


Do€t.  3.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  87 

day  to  day  and  year  to  year.  These  are  not 
signs  of  one  that  taketh  pleasure  in  your 
death.  If  this  had  been  his  dehght,  how 
easily  could  he  have  had  thee  lon^j  ago  in 
hell  ?  How  oft,  before  this,  could  he  have  cut 
thee  down  in  the  midst  of  thy  sins  with  a 
curse,  or  oath,  or  lie  in  thy  mouth,  in  thy 
ignorance,  and  pride,  and  sensuality !  When 
thou  wert  last  in  thy  drunkenness,  or  last  de- 
riding the  ways  of  God,  how  easily  could  he 
have  stopped  thy  breath,  and  tamed  thee  with 
his  plagues,  and  made  thee  sober  in  another 
world  !  Alas  !  how  small  a  matter  is  it  for 
the  Almiorhtv  to  silence  the  tonsfue  of  the 
profanest  railer,  and  tie  the  hands  of  the 
most  malicious  persecutor,  or  calm  the  fury 
of  the  bitterest  of  his  enemies,  and  make 
them  know  that  they  arc  but  worms? 

If  he  should  but  frown  upon  thee  thou 
wouldst  drop  into  thy  grave.  If  he  gave  com- 
mission to  one  of  his  angels  to  go  and  destroy 
ten  thousand  sinners,  how  quickly  would  it 
be  done  !  How  easily  can  he  lay  thee  upon 
the  bed  of  languishing,  and  make  thee  lie 
groaning  there  in  pain,  and  make  thee  eat  the 
words  of  reproach  which  thou  hast  spoken 
against  his  servants,  his  word,  his  worship, 


88  A    CALL    TO  (bott.  i' 

and  his  holy  ways,  and  make  thee  send  to 
beg  their  prayers  whom  thou  didst  despise 
in  th}'  presumption  ?  How  easily  can  he  lay 
that  flesh  under  pains  and  groans,  and  make 
it  too  weak  to  hold  thv  soul,  and  make  it 
more  loathsome  than  the  dung  of  the  eaith? 
That  flesh  which  now  must  have  what  it 
loves,  and  must  not  be  displeased  thougli 
God  be  displeased  ;  and  must  be  humored 
in  meat,  and  drink,  and  clothes,  whatever 
God  say  to  the  contrary,  how  quickly  would 
the  frowns  of  God  consume  it?  When  thou 
wast  passionately  defending  thy  sin,  and 
quarrelling  with  them  that  would  have 
drawn  thee  from  it,  and  showing  thy  spleen 
against  the  reprover,  and  pleading  for  the 
works  of  darkness ;  how  easily  could  God 
liave  snatched  thee  away  in  a  moment,  and 
set  thee  before  his  dreadful  3Iajesty,  where 
thou  shouldst  see  ten  thousand  times  ten 
thousand  glorious  angels  waiting  on  his 
throne,  and  have  called  thee  there  to  plead 
thy  cause,  and  asked  thee  "  What  hast  thou 
now  to  say  against  thy  Creator,  his  truth, 
his  servants,  or  his  holy  ways  ?  Now  plead 
thy  cause,  and  make  the  best  of  it  thou 
canst.    Now  what  canst  thou  say  in  excuse 


I>oct3.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  89 

of  thy  sins  ?  Now  give  account  of  thy  world- 
liness  and  fleshly  life,  of  thy  time,  of  all  the 
mercies  thou  hast  had."  O  how  thy  stub- 
born heart  would  have  melted,  and  thy  proud 
looks  be  taken  down,  and  thv  countenance 
be  appalled,  and  thy  stout  words  turned  into 
speechless  silence,  or  dreadful  cries,  if  God 
had  but  set  thee  thus  at  his  bar,  and  pleaded 
his  own  cause  with  thee,  which  thou  hast 
here  so  maliciously  pleaded  against !  How 
easily  can  he  at  any  time  say  to  thy  guilty 
soul.  Come  away,  and  live  in  that  flesh  no 
more  till  the  resurrection,  and  it  cannot  re- 
sist !  A  word  of  his  mouth  would  take  ofl* 
the  poise  of  thy  present  life,  and  then  all  thy 
parts  and  powers  would  stand  still ;  and  if 
he  say  unto  thee.  Live  no  longer,  or,  live  in 
hell,  thou  couldst  not  disobey. 

But  God  hath  yet  ddne  none  of  this,  but 
liath  patiently  forborne  thee,  and  mercifully 
upheld  thee,  and  given  thee  that  breath 
which  thou  didst  breathe  out  against  him, 
and  given  those  mercies  which  thou  didst 
sacrifice  to  thy  flesh,  and  afforded  thee  that 
provision  which  thou  didst  use  to  satisfy  thy 
greedy  throat :  he  gave  thee  every  minute 
of  that  time  which  thou  didst  waste  in  idle- 

8* 


90  A    CALL    TO  (DoctS. 

ness,  or  drunkenness,  or  worldlinefss  ;  and 
doth  not  all  his  patience  and.  mercy  show 
that  he  desired  not  thv  damnation?  Can 
the  candle  burn  without  the  oil?  Can  your 
houses  stand  without  the  eaith  to  bear  them? 
No  more  can  vou  live  an  hour  without  the 
support  of  God.  And  why  did  he  so  long 
support  th}'  life,  but  to  see  when  thou  wouldst 
bethink  thee  of  the  folly  of  thy  Vv'ays,  and 
return  and  live  ?  Vv'ill  any  man  purposely 
put  arms  into  his  enemy's  hands  to  resist 
him,  or  hold  a  candle  to  a  murderer  that  is 
killing  his  children,  or  to  an  idle  servant 
that  plays  or  sleeps  the  while  ?  Surely  it  is 
to  see  whether  thou  wilt  at  last  return  and 
live,  that  God  hath  so  long  waited  on  thee. 
5.  It  is  further  proved  by  the  sufferings  of 
his  Son,  that  God  taketh  no  pleasure  in  the 
death  of  the  wicked.  Would  he  have  ran- 
somed them  from  death  at  so  dear  a  rate  ? 
Would  he  have  astonished  angels  and  men 
by  his  condescension?  Would  God  have 
dwelt  in  flesh,  and  have  come  in  the  form 
of  a  servant,  and  have  assumed  humanity 
into  one  person  with  the  Godhead ;  and 
would  Christ  have  lived  a  life  of  suffering, 
and  died  a  cursed  death  for  sinners,  if  he 


rfocf.  3.)  THE    UXCO.WnRTED.  91 

had  rather  taken  pleasure  in  their  death? 
Suppose  3"0U  saw  him  but  so  busy  in  preach- 
ing and  healing  of  tliem,  as  you  find  him  in 
Mark,  3  :  21 ;  or  so  long  in  fasting,  as  in  ]Matt. 
4;  or  all  night  in  prayer,  as  in  Luke,  G  :  12; 
or  praying  with  drops  of  blood  trickling  from 
him  instead  of  sweat,  as  Luke,  22:44;  or 
suffering  a  cursed  death  upon  the  cross,  and 
pouring  out  his  soul  as  a  sacrifice  for  our 
sins — would  you  have  thought  these  the 
siofns  of  one  that  delighted  in  the  death  of 
the  wicked  ? 

And  think  not  to  extenuate  it  by  saying 
that  it  was  only  for  his  elect :  for  it  was  thy 
sin,  and  the  sin  of  all  the  world,  that  la}^  up- 
on our  Redeemer ;  and  his  sacrifice  and 
satisfaction  is  sufficient  for  all,  and  the  fruits 
of  it  are  offered  to  one  as  well  as  another. 
But  it  is  true,  that  it  was  never  the  intent  of 
his  mind  to  pardon  and  save  any  that  would 
not,  b}^  faith  and  repentance,  be  converted. 
If  you  had  seen  and  heard  him  weeping  and 
bemoaning  the  state  of  disobedience  in  im- 
penitent people,  Luke,  19:41,  42,  "And 
when  he  was  come  near,  he  beheld  the  citv, 
and  wept  over  it,  saying,  if  thou  hadst  known, 
even  thou,  at  least  in  this  thy  day,  the  things 


92  A    CALL    TO  (Docfd 

which  belong  unto  thy  peace  !  but  now  they 
are  hid  from  thine  eyes" — or  complaining 
of  their  stubbornness,  as  Matt.  23:37,  "O 
Jerusalem,  Jerusalem,   how  often  would  1 
have  gathered  thy  children  together,  even 
as  a  hen  gathereth  her  chickens  under  her 
win2:s,  and  ve  would  not!"   or  if  vou  had 
seen  and  heard  him  on  the  cross,   praying 
for  his  persecutors,  "  Father,  forgive  them, 
for  they  know  not  what  they  do,"  would  you 
have  suspected  that  he  had  delighted  in  the 
death  of  the  wicked,  even  of  those  that  per- 
ish by  their  wilful  unbelief?   When  God  hath 
so  loved  the  world,  (not  only  loved,  but  so 
loved,)  as  to  give  his  only  begotten  Son,  that 
whosoever  belie veth  in  him,  by  an  effectual 
faith,  should  not  perish,  but  have  everlasting 
life,  I  think  he  hath  hereby  proved,  against 
the  malice  of  men  and  devils,  that  he  takes 
no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the  wicked,  but 
had  rather  that  they  would  *'  turn  and  live." 
6.  If  all  this  will  not  yet  satisfy  you,  take 
His  own  word  that  he  knoweth  best  his  own 
mind,  or  at  least  believe  his  oath :  but  this 
leads  me  to  the  fourth  doctrine. 


u 


DdcI  4.)  THE    UXCONVERTED.  9.' 


DOCTRINE  IV. 

The  Lord  hath  confirmed  it  to  us  hy  his  Oath,  that  he  hath 
no  pleasure  in  the  death  of  the  wicked,  but  rather  that 
he  turn  and  live  ;  that  he  may  leave  man  no  pretence 
to  question  the  truth  of  it. 

If  you  dare  question  his  word,  I  hope  you 
dare  not  question  his  oath.  As  Christ  hath 
solemnly  protested  that  the  unregenerate  and 
unconverted  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom 
of  heaven;  Matt.  IS  :  S;  John,  8:3;  so 
God  hath  sworn  that  his  pleasure  is  not  in 
their  death,  but  in  their  conversion  and  life. 
And  as  the  apostle  saith,  Heb.  G  :  IG-IS,  be- 
cause he  can  swear  by  no  greater,  he  sware 
by  himself.  "  For  men  verily  swear  by  the 
greater  :  and  an  oath  for  confirmation  is  to 
them  an  end  of  strife.  Wherein  God,  willing 
more  abundantly  to  show  unto  the  heirs  of 
promise  the  immutability  of  his  counsel, 
confirmed  it  by  an  oath  ;  that  by  two  immu- 
table things,  in  which  it  was  impossible  for 
God  to  lie,  we  might  have  strong  consolation 
who  have  fled  for  refuge  to  lav  hold  on  the 
hope  set  before  us ;  which  hope  we  have  as  an 
anchor  of  the  soul,  both  sure  and  steadfast." 
If  there  be  any  man  that  cannot   reconcile 


94  A    CALL    TO  (Doct4. 

this  truth  with  the  doctrine  of  predestina- 
tion, or  the  actual  damnation  of  the  wicker], 
that  is  his  own  ignorance  ;  he  hath  no  pre- 
tence left  to  question  or  deny  therefore  the 
truth  of  the  point  in  hand  ;  for  this  is  con- 
firmed by  the  oath  of  God,  and  therefore 
must  not  be  distorted,  to  reduce  it  to  other 
points :  but  doubtful  points  must  rather  be 
reduced  to  it,  and  certain  truths  must  be 
believed  to  agreee  with  it,  though  our  shal- 
low minds  hardly  discern  the  agreement. 

I  do  now  entreat  thee,  if  thou  be  an  uncon- 
verted sinner  that  hearest  these  words,  that 
thou  w^ouldst  ponder  a  little  upon  the  fore- 
mentioned  doctrines,  and  bethink  thyself 
awhile  who  it  is  that  takes  pleasure  in  thy 
sin  and  damnation.  Certainly  it  is  not  God ; 
he  hath  sworn  for  his  part  that  he  takes  no 
pleasure  in  it.  And  I  know  it  is  not  the 
pleasing  of  him  that  you  intend.  You  dare 
not  say  that  you  drink,  and  swear,  and  ne- 
glect holy  duties,  and  quench  the  motions 
of  the  Spirit  to  please  God.  That  were  as 
if  3'ou  should  reproach  the  prince,  and  break 
his  laws,  and  seek  his  death,  and  say  you 
did  all  this  to  please  him. 


Doct.  4.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  95 

Who  is  It  then  that  takes  pleasure  in  your 
sin  and  death  ?  Not  any  that  bear  the 
image  of  God,  for  they  must  be  like-minded 
to  him.  God  knows,  it  is  small  pleasure  to 
to  your  faithful  teachers  to  see  you  servo 
3'our  deadly  enemy,  and  madly  venture 
your  eternal  state  and  wilfully  run  into  the 
flames  of  hell.  It  is  small  pleasure  to  them 
to  see  upon  your  souls  (in  the  sad  effects) 
such  blindness,  and  hard-heartedness,  and 
carelessness,  and  presumption  ;  such  wilful- 
ness in  evil,  and  such  unteachableness  and 
obstinacy  against  the  wa3's  of  life  and  peace. 
They  know  these  are  marks  of  death,  and 
of  the  wrath  of  God,  and  they  know,  from  the 
word  of  God,  what  is  like  to  be  the  end  of 
them,  and  therefore  it  is  no  more  pleasure 
to  them  than  to  a  tender  physician  to  see 
tlie  plague-marks  broke  out  upon  his  patient. 
Alas,  to  foresee  your  everlasting  torments, 
and  know  not  how  to  prevent  them!  To  see 
how  near  you  are  to  hell,  and  we  cannot 
make  you  believe  it  and  consider  it.  To  see 
how  easily,  how  certainly  you  might  escape, 
if  we  knew  but  how  to  make  you  willino:. 
How  fair  you  are  for  everlasting  salvation, 
if  you  would  but  turn  and  do  your  best,  and 


96  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.4. 

make  it  the  care  and  business  of  your  lives  ! 
But  3^ou  will  not  do  it :  if  our  lives  lay  on  it, 
we  cannot  persuade  vou  to  it.  We  studv 
day  and  night  what  to  say  to  you  that  may 
convince  and  persuade  you,  and  yet  it  is 
undone  :  we  lav  before  vou  the  word  of  God, 
and  show  you  the  very  chapter  and  verse 
where  it  is  written,  that  you  cannot  be  saved 
except  you  be  converted  ;  and  yet  we  leave 
the  most  of  you  as  we  find  you.  We  hope 
3*ou  will  believe  the  word  of  God  though 
you  believe  not  us,  and  regard  it  when  we 
show  you  the  plain  Scripture  for  it ;  but  we 
hope  in  vain,  and  labor  in  vain,  as  to  any 
saving  change  upon  your  hearts !  And  do 
you  think  that  this  is  a  pleasant  thing  to  us? 
Many  a  time,  in  secret  prayer,  we  complain 
to  God  with   sad  hearts, 

"Alas,  Lord,  we  have  spoken  to  them  in 
thv  name,  but  thev  little  rec^ard  us ;  we 
have  told  them  what  thou  bidst  us  tell  them 
concerning:  the  dano^er  oi  an  unconverted 
state,  but  they  do  not  beheve  us :  we  have 
told  them  that  thou  hast  protested  that  there 
is  no  peace  to  the  wicked,  Isa.  57  :  21 ;  but 
the  worst  of  them  all  will  scarcely  believe 
that  thev  are    wicked.    We    have    showed 


Doct.4.)  THE  UNCOXVERTED.  97 

them  thy  word,  where  thou   hast  said,  that 
if  they  Hve    after  the  flesh  they   shall  die, 
Rom.  S  :  13  ;  but  they  say,  they  v/ill  beheve 
in  thee,  when  they  will  not  believe  thee  ;  and 
that  they  will  trust  in  thee,  when  they  give 
no  credit  to  thy  word  ;  and  when  they  hope 
that  the  threaten! ngs  of  thy  word  are  false, 
they  will  yet  call  this  a  hoping  in  God  ;  and 
thou2:h  we  show  them  where  thou  hast  said, 
that  when  a  wicked  man  dieth,  all  his  hopes 
perish,  3^et  we  cannot  persuade  them  from 
their  deceitful  hopes.   Prov.  11:7.    We  tell 
them  what  a  base  unprofitable  thing  sin  is ; 
but  they  love  it,  and  therefore  will  not  leave 
it.    We  tell  them  how  dear  they  buy  this 
pleasure,  and  what  they  must  pay  for  it  in 
everlasting  torment;  and  they  bless  them- 
selves, and  will  not  believe  it,  but  will  do  as 
the  most  do ;  and  because  God  is  merciful 
they  will  not  believe  him,  but  will  venture 
their  souls,  come  what  will.    We  tell  them 
how  ready  the  Lord  is  to  receive  them,  and 
this  doth  but  make  them  delay  their  repent- 
ance and  be  bolder  in   their  sin.    Some  of 
them  say  they  purpose  to  repent,  but  they 
arc  still  the  same  ;  and   some   sav  thev  do 
repent  already,  while  yet  they  are  not  con- 

B.  Call  0 


S3  A    CALL    TO  (Ooct.  4. 

verted  from  their  sins.  We  exhort  them,  we 
entreat  them,  \\c  offer  them  our  help,  but 
we  cannot  prevail  with  them  ;  but  they  that 
were  drunkards,  are  drunkards  still;  and 
the}'  that  were  voluptuous  flesh-pleasing 
wretches,  are  such  still ;  and  they  that  were 
worldlino's,  are  worldlino:s  still ;  and  thev 
that  were  ignorant  and  proud  and  self-con- 
ceited, are  so  still.  Few  of  them  will  see 
and  confess  their  sin,  and  fewer  will  forsake 
it,  but  comfort  themselves  that  all  men  are 
sinners,  as  if  there  were  no  difference  be- 
tween a  converted  sinner  and  an  unconvert- 
ed. Some  of  them  will  not  come  near  us 
when  we  are  willing  to  instruct  them,  but 
think  they  know  enough  already,  and  need 
not  our  instruction  ;  and  some  of  them  will 
give  us  the  hearing,  and  do  what  they  list ; 
and  most  of  them  are  like  dead  men  that 
•cannot  feel ;  so  that  when  we  tell  them  of 
matters  of  everlasting  consequence,  we  can- 
not get  a  word  of  it  to  their  hearts.  If  we 
do  not  obev  them,  and  humor  them  in  doing 
all  that  they  would  have  us,  though  never 
so  much  against  the  word  of  God,  they  will 
hate  us,  and  rail  at  us ;  but  if  we  beseech 
them  to  confess,  and  forsake  their  sins,  and 


Dbct.  4.)  THE    UNCONVEirrrD.  tl9» 

save  their  souls,  they  will  not  do  it.  They 
would  heave  us  disobey  God  and  damn  our 
own  souls  to  please  them  ;  and  yet  they  will 
not  turn  and  save  t/heir  own  souls  to  please 
God.  They  are  wiser  in  their  own  e3'es  thnn 
all  their  teachers  ;  the}^  rage  and  are  confi- 
dent in  their  own  way,  and  if  we  are  ever 
so  anxious  we  cannot  change  them.  Lord, 
this  is  the  case  of  our  miserable  neighbors, 
and  we  cannot  help  it ;  we  see  them  ready 
to  drop  into  hell,  and  we  cannot  help  it ;  we 
know  if  they  would  unfeignedly  turn,  they 
might  be  saved,  but  vre  cannot  persuade- 
them  ;  if  we  would  beg  it  of  them  on  our 
knees,  we  cannot  persuade  them  to  it ;  if  we 
would  beg  it  of  them  with  tears,  we  cannot 
persuade  them  ;  and  what  more  can  we  do?" 
These  are  the  secret  complaints  and  moans 
that  many  a  poor  minister  is  compelled  to 
make.  And  do  you  think  that  he  hath  anv 
pleasure  in  this  ?  Is  it  a  pleasure  to  him  to 
see  you  go  on  in  sin,  and  cannot  stop  you  V 
to  see  you  so  miserable,  and  cannot  so  much 
as  make  you  sensible  of  it?  to  see  you  mer- 
ry when  you  are  not  sure  to  be  an  hour  out 
of  hell  ?  to  think  what  you  must  for  ever 
sufler,  because  you  will  not  turn  ?   and  ta 


100  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  4. 

think  what  an  everlasting  life  of  glory  you 
wilfully  despise  and  cast  away?  What 
sadder  thing  can  \'ou  bring  to  their  hearts, 
and  how  can  you  devise  to  grieve  them  more  ? 

Who  is  it  then  that  you  please  by  your  sin 
and  death  ?  It  is  none  of  your  godly  friends. 
Alas,  it  is  the  grief  of  their  souls  to  see  your 
misery,  and  they  lament  you  many  a  time 
when  you  give  them  little  thanks  for  it,  and 
when  3'ou  have  not  hearts  to  lament  your- 
selves. 

Who  is  it  then  that  takes  pleasure  in  your 
sin  ? 

1.  The  devil  indeed  takes  pleasure  in  your 
sin  and  death  ;  for  this  is  the  very  end  of  all 
his  temptations ;  for  this  he  watches  night 
and  day ;  you  cannot  devise  to  please  him 
better  than  to  go  on  in  sin.  How  glad  is  he 
when  he  sees  thee  going  into  the  alehouse, 
or  other  sin,  and  wdien  he  heareth  thee  curse, 
or  swear,  or  rail?  How  glad  is  he  when  he 
heareth  thee  revile  the  minister  that  would 
draw  thee  from  thy  sin  and  help  to  save 
thee?  these  are  his  delight. 

2.  The  wicked  are  also  delighted  in  it ; 
for  it  is  aofreable  to  their  nature. 

3.  But  I  know,  for  all  this,  that  it  is  not 


I>ocL  4.)  THE    U.NCONVERTKD.  101 

the  pleasing  of  the  devil  that  you  intend, 
even  when  you  please  liim ;  but  it  is  your 
own  flesh,  the  greatest  and  most  dangerous 
enemy,  that  you  intend  to  please.  It  is  the 
flesh  that  would  be  pampered,  that  would  be 
pleased  in  meat,  and  drink,  and  clothing ; 
that  would  be  pleased  with  company,  and 
pleased  in  applause  and  credit  with  the 
world,  and  pleased  in  sports,  and  lusts,  and 
idleness ;  this  is  the  guli"  that  devoureth  all. 
This  is  the  very  god  that  you  serve,  for  the 
Scripture  saith  of  such,  that  their  bellies  are 
their  god.  Phil.  3:  19.  But  I  beseech  you, 
stay  a  little  and  consider  the  business. 

Qiicstlon  1.  Should  your  flesh  be  pleased 
before  your  Maker?  Will  you  displease  the 
Lord,  and  displease  3^our  teacher,  and  your 
godly  friends,  to  please  your  brutish  appe- 
tites or  sensual  desires?  Is  not  God  worthy 
to  be  the  ruler  of  your  flesh  ?  If  he  shall  not 
rule  it,  he  will  not  save  it ;  you  cannot  in 
reason  expect  that  he  should. 

Question  2.  Your  flesh  is  pleased  with 
your  sin,  but  is  your  conscience  pleased  ? 
Doth  not  it  grudge  within  you,  and  tell  you 
sometimes  that  all  is  not  well,  and  that  your 
case  is  not  so  safe  as  you  make  it  to  be ; 

9^ 


102  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  4. 

und  should  not  3'our  souls  and  consciences  be 
pleased  before  your  corruptible  flesh  ? 

Questio7i  3.  But  is  not  your  flesh  preparing 
for  its  own  displeasure  also  ?  It  loves  the 
bait,  but  doth  it  love  the  hook  ?  It  loves  the 
strong  drink  and  sweet  morsels  ;  it  loves  its 
ease,  and  sports  and  merriment ;  it  loves  to 
be  rich  and  well  spoken  of  by  men,  and  to 
be  somebody  in  the  world ;  but  doth  it  love 
the  curse  of  God  ?  Doth  it  love  to  stand 
trembling  before  his  bar,  and  to  be  judged 
to  everlasting  fire  ?  Doth  it  love  to  be  tor- 
mented with  the  devils  for  ever?  Take  all 
together ;  for  there  is  no  separating  sin  and 
hell  but  only  by  faith  and  true  conversion ; 
if  you  W'ill  keep  one,  you  must  have  the 
other.  If  death  and  hell  be  pleasant  to  thee, 
no  wonder  then  if  3'OU  go  on  in  sin  ;  but  if 
they  be  not,  (as  I  am  sure  they  are  not,)  then 
what  if  sin  were  ever  so  pleasant,  is  it  worth 
the  loss  of  life  eternal  ?  Is  a  little  drink, 
or  meat,  or  ease ;  is  the  good  word  of  sin- 
ners, is  the  riches  of  this  world  to  be  valued 
above  the  joys  of  heaven  ?  Or  are  they 
worth  the  sufferings  of  eternal  fire  ?  Sirs, 
these  questions  should  be  considered  before 
vou  go  any  further,  by  every  man  that  hath 


Doct.4.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  103 

reason  to  consider,  and  that  believes  he  hath 
a  soul  to  sa^'e  or  lose. 

Well,  the  Lord  here  sweareth  that  he  hath 
no  pleasure  in  your  death,  but  rather  that 
you  would  turn  and  live  ;  if  yet  you  will  go 
on  and  die  rather  than  turn,  remember  it  was 
not  to  please  Ggd  that  you  did  it :  it  was  to 
please  the  world,  and  to  please  yourselves. 
And  if  men  will  damn  themselves  to  please 
themselves,  and  run  into  endless  torments 
for  delight,  and  have  not  the  sense,  the  heart, 
the  grace,  to  hearken  to  God  or  man  that 
would  reclaim  them,  what  remedy  is  there, 
but  they  must  take  what  they  get  by  it,  and 
repent  of  it  in  another  manner,  when  it  is  too 
late  ?  Before  I  proceed  any  further  in  the 
application  I  shall  consider  the  next  doc- 
trine, which  gives  me  a  fuller  ground  for  it. 


104  A    CALL    Ta  (DoctS. 


DOCTRINE    V. 

So  earnest  is  God  for  the  conversion  of  sinners  tliat  he 
douhlcth  his  commands  and  exhortations^  with  veJie- 
mcncij — Turn  yc,  turn  ye,  why  will  ye  die  ? 

This  doctrine  is  the  application  of  the  for- 
mer, by  way  of  exhortation,  and  as  §uch  1 
shall  handle  it.  Is  there  an  unconverted  sin- 
ner that  heareth  these  vehement  words  of 
God?  Ic  there  a  man  or  woman,  in  this  as- 
sembly that  is  yet  a  stranger  to  the  renew- 
ing sanctifying  worii  of  the  Holy  Ghost?  It 
is  a  happy  assembly  if  it  be  not  so  with  the 
most.  Hearken  then  to  the  voice  of  3^our 
Maker,  and  turn  to  him  by  Christ  without 
delav.  Would  vou  know  the  will  of  God? 
Why  this  is  his  will,  that  you  presently  turn. 
Shall  the  living  God  send  so  earnest  a  mes- 
sao:e  to  his  creatures,  and  should  thev  not 
obey? 

Hearken  then,  all  you  that  live  after  the 
flesh  :  the  Lord  that  gave  thee  thy  breath 
and  being  hath  sent  a  message  to  thee  from 
heaven ;  and  this  is  his  message.  Turn  ye. 
turn  ye,  why  will  ye  die?  He  that  hath  ears 
10  hear^  let  him  hear.    Shall  the  voice  of  the 


Doct-5.)  THE    UNCONVERTED-  105 

(Eternal  Majesty  be  neglected?  If  he  do  hut 
terrihh"  thunder,  thou  art  afraid.  O  but  this 
voice  doth  more  nearly  concern  thee.  If  ho 
did  but  toll  thee  thou  shalt  die  to-morrow, 
thou  wouldst  not  make  light  of  it.  O  but 
this  word  concerneth  thy  life  or  death  ever- 
lasting. It  is  both  a  command  and  an  ex- 
l)ortation.  As  if  he  had  said  to  thee,  "  I 
charge  thee,  upon  the  allegiance  that  thou 
owest  to  me,  thy  Creator  and  Redeemer, 
that  thou  renounce  the  flesh,  the  world,  and 
the  devil,  and  turn  to  me,  that  thou  mayest 
live.  I  condescend  to  entreat  thee,  as  thou 
either  lovest  or  fearest  him  that  made  thee  ; 
as  thou  lovest  thine  own  life,  even  thine 
everlasting  life,  turn  and  live :  as  ever  thou 
wouldst  escape  eternal  miser}',  turn,  turn,  for 
why  wilt  thou  die?"  And  is  there  a  heart 
in  man,  in  a  reasonable  creature,  that  can 
once  refuse  such  a  message,  such  a  com- 
mand, such  an  exhortation  as  this?  O  what 
a  thing,  then,  is  the  heart  of  man ! 

Hearken,  then,  all  ye  that  love  yourselves, 
and  all  that  regard  your  own  salvation ; 
here  is  the  most  joyful  message  that  was 
ever  sent  to  the  ears  of  man,  "  Turn  yc,  turn 
f'.c,  why  will  ye  die  ?"    You  are  not  yet  shut 


106  A    CALL    TO  (I>ocL  3. 

up  under  desperation.  Here  is  m?rcy  offered 
you  ;  turn,  and  you  shall  have  it.  O  sirs  ! 
with  what  glad  and  joyful  hear:  s  should  you 
receive  these  tidings!  I  know  this  is  not  tlic 
first  time  that  you  have  heard  it ;  but  how 
have  3'ou  regarded  it,  or  how  do  you  regard 
it  now  ?  Hear,  all  yon  ignorant,  careless 
sinners,  the  word  of  the  Lord.  Hear,  all  you 
worldlings,  you  sensual  flesh-pleasers ;  you 
gluttons,  and  drunkards,  and  whoremongers, 
and  swearers  ;  you  railers  and  backbiters,, 
slanderers  and  liars — Turn  ye,  turii  ye,  ichy 
will  ye  die^ 

Hear,  all  you  cold  and  outside  professors, 
and  all  that  are  strangers  to  the  life  of  Christ, 
and  never  knew  the  power  of  his  cross  and 
resurrection,  and  never  felt  your  hearts 
warmed  with  his  love,  and  live  not  on  him 
as  the  strength  of  your  souls — "  Turn  ye, 
turn  ye,  why  will  ye  die  ?" 

Hear,  all  that  are  void  of  the  love  of  God, 
whose  hearts  are  not  toward  him,  nor  taken 
up  with  the  hopes  of  glory,  but  who  set  more 
bv  your  earthly  prosperity  and  delights  than 
by  the  joys  of  heaven  ;  all  you  that  are  re- 
ligious but  a  little  by-the-by,  and  give  God 
no  more  than  your  flesh  can  spare  ;  that  have 


Coct.  5.)  THE   ^'NCONTERTED.  J  07 

not  denied  your  carnal  selves,  and  forsaken 
all  that  you  have  for  Christ,  in  the  estima- 
tion and  grounded  resolution  of  3'our  souls, 
but  have  some  one  thing  in  the  world  so 
dear  to  you  that  you  cannot  spare  it  for 
Christ,  if  he  required  it,  but  will  rather  ven- 
ture on  his  displeasure  than  forsake  it — 
*'  Turn  ye,  turn  ye,  why  will  ye  die?" 

If  you  never  heard  it,  or  observed  it  be- 
fore, remember  that  you  were  told  from  the 
word  of  God  this  day,  that  if  you  will  but 
turn,  you  may  live;  and  if  you  will  not  turn, 
you  shall  surely  die. 

\Vhat  now  will  you  do,  sirs  ?  What  is  your 
resolution?  Will  you  turn,  or  will  3"ou  not? 
Halt  not  any  longer  between  two  opinions. 
If  the  Lord  be  God,  follow  him  ;  if  your 
flesh  be  God,  then  serve  it  still.  If  heaven 
be  better  than  earth  and  fleshly  pleasures, 
come  away,  then,  and  seek  a  better  country, 
and  lay  up  your  treasure  where  rust  and 
moths  do  not  corrupt,  and  thieves  cannot 
break  through  and  steal ;  and  be  awakened 
c'it  last,  with  all  your  might  to  seek  the  kinir- 
dom  that  cannot  be  moved,  Heb.  12  :  28, 
and  to  employ  your  lives  on  a  higher  design, 
and  turn  the  stream  of  your  cares  and  labors 


108  A     CALL    TO  (Doct.  5. 

another  way  than  formerly  you  have  done. 
But  if  earth  be  better  than  heaven,  or  will 
do  more  for  you,  or  last  you  longer,  then 
keep  it  and  make3^6ur  best  of  it,  and  follow 
it  still.  Sirs,  are  you  resolved  what  to  do  ? 
If  you  be  not,  I  will  set  a  few  more  moving 
considerations  before  you,  to  see  if  reason 
will  make  vou  resolve. 

I.  Consider  what  preparations  mercy  hath 
made  for  3^our  salvation ;  and  what  pity  it 
is  that  any  man  should  be  damned  after  all 
this.  The  time  was,  when  the  flaming  sword 
was  in  the  way,  and  the  curse  of  God's  law 
would  have  kept  thee  back  if  thou  hadst 
been  never  so  will  ins:  to  turn  to  God.  The 
time  was  when  thyself,  and  all  the  friends 
that  thou  hadst  in  the  world,  could  never  have 
produced  thee  the  pardon  of  thy  sins  past, 
though  thou  hadst  never  so  much  lament- 
ed and  reformed  them.  But  Christ  hath  re- 
moved this  impediment,  by  the  ransom  of 
his  blood.  The  time  was,  that  God  was 
wholly  unreconciled,  as  being  not  satisfied 
for  the  violation  of  his  law ;  but  now  he  is 
so  far  satisfied  and  reconciled,  as  that  he 
hath  made  thee  a  free  act  of  oblivion,  and  a 
free  deed  of  the  2:ift  of  Christ  and  life,  and 


Doct.  5.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  109 

offereth  it  to  thee,  and  entreatetn  thee  to  ac- 
cept it ;  and  it  may  be  thine  if  thou  wilt. 
For  "  he  was  in  Christ  reconciUng  the  world 
to  himself,  and  hath  committed  to  us  tlie 
word  of  reconciliation."  2  Cor.  5  :  IS,  19. 
Sinners,  we  too  are  commanded  to  deliver 
this  message  to  you  all,  as  from  the  Lord  ; 
*'  Come,  for  all  things  are  ready."  Luke, 
14  :  17.  Are  all  things  ready,  and  are  you 
unready?  God  is  ready  to  entertain  you, 
and  pardon  all  that  you  have  done  against 
him,  if  you  will  but  come.  As  long  as  you 
have  sinned,  as  wilfully  as  you  have  sinned, 
as  heinously  as  you  have  sinned,  he  is  ready 
10  cast  all  behind  his  back,  if  you  will  but 
come.  Though  you  have  been  prodigals, 
and  run  away  from  God,  and  have  staid 
away  so  long,  he  is  ready  even  to  meet  you, 
and  embrace  you  in  his  arms,  and  rejoice  in 
your  conversion,  if  you  will  but  turn.  Even 
the  worldlings  and  drunkards  will  find  God 
ready  to  bid  them  welcome,  if  they  will  but 
come.  Doth  not  this  turn  thy  heart  within 
theeV  O  sinner!  if  thou  hadst  a  heart  of 
fiesh,  and  not  of  stone  in  thee,  methinks  this 
should  melt  it.  Shall  the  dreadful  infinite 
Majesty  of  heaven  even  wait  for  tliy  return- 

13.  Call.  10 


110  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.5. 

ing,  and  be  ready  to  receive  thee,  who  hast 
abused  him,  and  forgotten  him  so  long? 
Shall  he  delight  in  thy  conversion,  that 
might  at  any  time  glorify  his  justice  in  thy 
damnation?  and  yet  doth  it  not  melt  thy 
heart  within  thee,  and  art  thou  not  yet  ready 
to  come  in?  Hast  thou  not  as  much  reason 
to  be  ready  to  come  as  God  hath  to  invite 
thee  and  bid  thee  welcome  ? 

But  that  is  not  all :  Christ  hath  died  on 
the  cross,  and  made  such  a  way  for  thee  to 
the  Father,  that,  on  his  account,  thou  mayest 
be  welcome,  if  thou  wilt  come.  And  yet 
art  thou  not  ready  ? 

A  pardon  is  already  expressly  granted, 
and  offered  thee  in  the  Gospel.  And  yet  art 
thou  not  ready  ? 

The  ministers  of  the  Gospel  are  ready  to 
assist  thee,  to  instruct  thee,  pray  for  thee. 
And  yet  art  thou  not  ready  ? 

All  that  fear  God  about  thee  are  ready  to 
rejoice  in  thy  conversion,  and  to  receive  thee 
into  the  communion  of  saints,  and  to  give 
thee  the  right  hand  of  fellowship,  yea,  though 
thou  hadst  been  one  that  had  been  cast  out 
of  their  society :  they  dare  not  but  forgive 
where  God  forgiveth,  v.- hen  it  is  manifest  to 


Doct.  5.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  Ill 

them  by  thy  confession  and  amendment ; 
they  dare  not  so  much  as  reproach  thee  with 
thy  former  sins,  because  they  know  that  God 
will  not  upbraid  thee  with  them.  If  thou 
hadst  been  never  so  scandalous,  if  thou 
wouldst  but  heartily  be  converted  and  come 
in,  they  would  not  refuse  thee,  let  the  world 
say  what  they  would  against  it.  And  are  all 
these  ready  to  receive  thee,  and  yet  art  thou 
not  ready  to  come  in  ? 

Yea,  heaven  itself  is  ready:  the  Lord 
will  receive  thee  into  the  glory  of  his  saints. 
Vile  as  thou  hast  been,  if  thou  wilt  be  but 
cleansed  thou  mayest  have  a  place  before 
his  throne  ;  his  angels  will  be  ready  to  guard 
thy  soul  to  the  place  of  joy  if  thou  do  but 
unfeignedly  come  in.  And  is  God  ready, 
the  sacrifice  of  Christ  ready,  the  promise 
ready,  and  pardon  ready?  Are  ministers 
ready,  and  the  people  of  God  ready,  and 
heaven  itself  ready?  and  angels  ready?  and 
all  these  but  waiting  for  thy  conversion ;  and 
yet  art  thou  not  ready?  What!  not  ready 
to  live,  when  thou  hast  been  dead  so  long  ? 
not  ready  to  come  to  thy  right  understand- 
ing, as  the  prodigal  is  said  to  "  come  to 
himself,"  Luke,  15  :  17,  when  thou  hast  been 


112  ▲   CALL    TO  (Doct.  5 

beside  thyself  so  long?  Not  read}'  to  be  sav- 
ed, when  thou  art  even  ready  to  be  con- 
demned ?  Art  thou  not  ready  to  lay  hold  on 
Christ,  that  would  deliver  thee,  when  thou 
art  even  ready  to  sink  into  damnation  ?  Art 
thou  not  ready  to  be  saved  from  hell,  when 
thou  art  even  ready  to  be  cast  remediless 
into  it  ■/  Alas,  man !  dost  thou  know  what 
thou  doest  ?  If  thou  die  unconverted  there  is 
no  doubt  to  be  made  of  thy  damnation  ;  and 
thou  art  not  sure  to  live  an  hour.  And  yet 
art  thou  not  ready  to  turn  and  to  come  in  ? 
O  miserable  wretch  !  Hast  thou  not  served 
the  flesh  and  the  devil  long  enough  ?  Yet 
hast  thou  not  enough  of  sin  ?  Is  it  so  good  to 
thee,  or  so  profitable  for  thee?  Dost  thou 
know  what  it  is,  that  thou  wouldst  yet  have 
moTC  of  it?  Hast  thou  had  so  many  calls, 
and  so  many  mercies,  and  so  many  warn- 
ings, and  so  many  examples?  Hast  thou 
seen  so  many  laid  in  the  grave,  and  yet  art 
thou  not  ready  to  let  go  thy  sins  and  come 
to  Christ  ?  What,  after  so  many  convictions 
and  pangs  of  conscience,  after  so  many  pur- 
poses and  promises,  art  thou  not  yet  ready 
to  turn  and  live  ?  O  that  thy  eyes,  thy  heart 
were  opened  to  know  how  fair  an  offer  is 


Doct.  5)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  113 

now  made  to  thee  !  and  what  a  joyful  mes- 
sage it  is  that  we  are  sent  on,  to  bid  thee 
come,  for  all  things  are  ready ! 

II.  Consider  also,  what  calls  thou  hast  to 
turn  and  live.    How  many,  how  loud,  how 
earnest,   how  dreadful :   and  yet  what  en- 
couraging, joyful  calls !    For  the   principal 
inviter  is  God  himself.    He  that  command- 
eth  heaven  and  earth,   commands  thee  to 
turn,  and  that  presently,  without  delay.    He 
commands  the  sun  to  run  its  course,  and  to 
rise  upon  thee  every  morning ;  and  though  it 
be  so  glorious  an  orb,  and  many  times  bigger 
than  all  the  earth,  yet  it  obeyeth  him,  and 
faileth  not  one  minute  of  its  appointed  time. 
He  commandeth   all   the   planets   and    the 
orbs  of  heaven,  and  the}^  obey.    He  com- 
mandeth the  sea  to  ebb  and  flow,  and  the 
whole  creation  to  keep  its  course,  and  all 
obey  him;  the  angels  of  heaven  obey  his 
will,  when  he   sends   them   to    minister  to 
such  worms  as  we  on   earth,  Heb.  1  :  14; 
and  3^et  if  he  command  but  a  sinner  to  turn, 
he  will  not  obey  him.    He  onl}^  thinks  him- 
self wiser  than  God,  and  he  cavils  and  pleads 
the  cause  of  sin,  and  will  not  obey.    If  the 
Lord  Almighty  say  the  word,  the  heavens 

10* 


114  A    CALL    TO  (DocT,  5 

and  all  therein  obey  him :  but  if  he  call  a 
drunkard  oat  of  an  alehouse,  he  will  not 
obey :  or  if  he  call  a  worldly  fleshly  sinner 
to  deny  himself,  and  mortify  the  flesh,  and 
set  his  heart  upon  a  better  inheritance,  he 
will  not  obey. 

If  thou  hadst  any  love  in  thee,  thou  wouldst 
know  the  voice,  and  say,  O  this  is  my  Father's 
call !  how  can  I  find  in  my  heart  to  disobey  ? 
For  the  sheep  of  Christ  "  know  and  hear  his 
voice,  and  they  follow  him,  and  he  giveth 
them  eternal  life."  John,  10  : 4.  If  thou 
hadst  any  spiritual  life  and  sense  in  thee,  at 
least  thou  wouldst  say,  "  This  call  is  the 
dreadful  voice  of  God,  and  who  dare  dis- 
obey ?  For  saith  the  prophet,  *  The  lion 
hath  roared,  who  will  not  fear?'"  Amos, 
3  ;  8.  God  is  not  a  man,  that  thou  should st 
dally  and  trifle  with  him.  Remember  what 
he  said  to  Paul  at  his  conversion,  "  It  is  hard 
for  thee  to  kick  against  the  pricks.''''  Acts,  9  :  5. 
Wilt  thou  yet  go  on  and  despise  his  word, 
and  resist  his  Spirit,  and  stop  thine  ears 
asainst  his  call  ?  who  is  it  that  will  have  the 
worst  of  this  ?  Dost  thou  know  whom  thou 
disobeyest,  and  contendest  with,  and  what 
thou  art  doing?    It  were   a  far  wiser  and 


Doct.  5.)  THE    LWCOXVLRTKD,  115 

easier  task  for  thee  to  contend  with  the 
thorns,  and  spurn  them  with  thy  bare  feet, 
and  beat  them  with  thy  bare  hands,  or  put 
thine  head  into  the  burning  fire.  "  Be  not 
deceived,  God  will  not  be  mocked."  Gal. 
6  :  7.  Whoever  else  be  mocked,  God  will 
not  be  :  3'ou  had  better  play  with  the  fire  in 
3'our  thatch,  than  with  the  fire  of  his  burn- 
ing wrath.  "  For  our  God  is  a  consuming 
fire."  Heb.  12  :  29.  O  how  unmeet  a  match 
f^t  thou  for  God  !  "  It  is  a  fearful  thing  to 
fall  into  his  hands."  Heb.  10  :  31.  And 
therefore  it  is  a  fearful  thing  to  contend  witli 
him  or  resist  him.  As  you  love  your  own 
souls,  take  heed  what  you  do  :  what  will 
3'ou  say  if  he  begin  in  wrath  to  plead  with 
you  ?  what  will  you  do  if  he  take  you  once 
in  hand?  Will  you  then  strive  against  his 
judgment,  as  now  ye  do  against  his  grace  ? 
"  Fury  is  not  in  ?7ie,"  saith  the  Lord,  that  is, 
I  delight  not  to  destroy  you  :  I  do  it,  as  it 
were  unwillingly;  but  yet  "it'Ao  icoidd  set 
the  hriars  and  thorns  a<rainst  me  in  battle ?  J 
ivonld  go  through  theni^  I  would  hum  them  to- 
gether. Or  let  him  take  hold  of  my  strength j 
that  he  may  male  peace  ivith  nie,  and  he  shall 
make  jJcace  icith  me^   Isa.  27  :  4,  5.     It  is  an 


116  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  5. 

unequal  combat  for  the  briers  and  stubble  to 
make  war  with  the  fire. 

Thus  you  see  who  it  is  that  calleth  you, 
that  would  move  you  to  hear  his  call,  and 
turn.  So  consider  also  by  what  instruments, 
and  how  often,  and  how  earnestly  he  calls. 

1.  Every  leaf  of  the  blessed  book  of  God 
hath,  as  it  were,  a  voice,  and  calls  out  to 
thee.  Turn,  and  live;  turn,  or  thou  wilt  die. 
How  canst  thou  open  it,  and  read  a  leaf,  or 
hear  a  chapter,  and  not  perceive  God  b^s 
thee  turn? 

2.  It  is  the  voice  of  every  sermon  that 
thou  hearest :  for  w^hat  else  is  the  scope  and 
drift  of  all,  but  to  call,  and  persuade,  and  en- 
treat thee  to  turn. 

3.  It  is  the  voice  of  many  a  motion  of  the 
Spirit  that  secretly  speaks  over  these  words 
again,  and  urgeth  thee  to  turn. 

4.  It  is  likely,  sometimes  it  is  the  voice 
of  thy  own  conscience.  Art  thou  not  some- 
times convinced  that  all  is  not  well  with 
thee  ?  And  doth  not  thy  conscience  tell  thee 
that  thou  must  be  a  new  man,  and  take  a  new 
course,  and  often  call  upon  thee  to  return  ? 

5.  It  is  the  voice  of  the  gracious  exam- 
ples of  the  godly.    When  thou  seest  them 


Doct.  5.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  117 

live  a  heavenly  life,  and  fly  from  the  sin 
which  is  th}-  delight,  this  really  calls  on  thee 
to  lurn. 

G.  It  is  the  voice  of  all  the  works  of  God: 
for  thev  also  are  God's  books  that  teach  thee 
this  lesson,  by  showing  thee  his  greatness, 
and  wisdom,  and  goodness ;  and  calling 
thee  to  observe  them,  and  admire  the  Cre- 
ator. "  The  heavens  declare  the  glory  of 
God,  and  the  firmament  showeth  his  handy 
wprk  :  day  unto  day  iittercth  speech,  night 
unto  night  showeth  knowledge."  Psalm  19  : 
1,  2.  Every  time  the  sun  riseth  unto  thee, 
it  really  calleth  thee  to  turn,  as  if  it  should 
say,  "What  do  I  travel  and  compass  the 
world  for,  but  to  declare  to  men  the  glorv  of 
their  Maker,  and  to  light  them  to  do  his 
work?  And  do  I  wStill  find  thee  doing  the 
work  of  sin,  and  sleeping  out  thy  life  in  ne- 
gligence? Awake,  thou  that  sleepest,  and 
arise  from  the  dead,  and  Christ  shall  give 
ihee  hght."  Ephcs.  5  :  14.  "  The  night  is  far 
spent,  the  day  is  at  hand  ;  it  is  nov/  high 
lime  to  awake  oQt  of  sleep.  Let  us  therefore 
cast  off  the  works  of  darkness,  and  let  us  put 
on  the  armor  of  light.  Let  us  w^alk  honestlv 
as  in  the  day,  not  in   rioting  and  drunken- 


118  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.5 

ness,  not  in  chambering  and  wantonness, 
not  in  strife  and  envying,  but  put  ye  on  the 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  make  not  provision 
for  the  flesh,  to  fulfil  the  lusts  thereof." 
Rom.  13  :  11-14.  This  text  was  the  means 
of  Au2:ustin's  conversion. 

7.  It  is  the  voice  of  every  mercy  thou 
dost  possess.  If  thou  couldst  but  hear  and 
understand  them,  the}^  all  cry  out  unto  thee. 
Turn.  Why  doth  the  earth  bear  thee,  but 
to  seek  and  serve  the  Lord  ?  Why  doth  it 
afford  thee  its  fruits,  but  to  serve  him  ?  Why 
doth  the  air  afford  thee  breath,  but  to  serve 
him?  Why  do  all  the  creatures  serve  thee 
with  their  labors  and  their  lives,  but  that 
thou  mightest  devote  them  and  thyself  to  the 
service  of  God?  Why  doth  he  give  thee 
time,  and  health,  and  strength,  but  to  serve 
him  ?  Why  hast  thou  meat,  and  drink,  and 
clothes,  but  for  his  service  ?  Hast  thou  any 
thing  which  thou  hast  not  received?  and 
if  thou  didst  receive  them,  it  is  reason  thou 
shouldst  bethink  thee  from  whom,  and  to 
what  end  and  use  thou  didst  receive  them. 
Didst  thou  never  cry  to  him  for  help  in  thy 
distress,  and  didst  ihou  not  then  understand 
that  it  was  thy  part  to  turn  and  serve  him. 


Doct.5.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  110 

if  he  would  deliver  thee  ?  He  hath  done  his 
part,  and  spared  thee  yet  longer,  and  tried 
thee  another,  and  another  year ;  and  yet 
dost  thou  not  turn  ?  You  know  the  parable 
of  the  unfruitful  fig-tree,  Luke,  13  :  6-9. 
When  the  Lord  had  said,  "Cut  it  down, 
why  cumbereth  it  the  ground  ?"  he  was  en- 
treated to  try  it  one  year  longer,  and  then 
if  it  proved  not  fruitful,  to  cut  it  down. 
Christ  himself  there  makes  the  application 
twice  over,  "Except  ye  repent,  ye  shall  all 
likewise  perish."  How  many  years  hath 
God  looked  for  the  fruits  of  love  and  holi- 
ness from  thee,  and  hath  found  none,  and 
yet  he  hath  spared  thee  ?  How  many  a  time, 
by  thy  wilful  ignorance,  and  carelessness, 
and  disobedience,  hast  thou  provoked  jus- 
tice to  say,  "Cut  him  down,  why  cumbereth 
he  the  ground?"  And  yet  mercy  hath  pre- 
vailed, and  patience  hath  forborne  the  fatal 
blow  to  this  day.  If  thou  hadst  the  under- 
standing of  a  man  within  thee,  thou  wouldst 
know  that  all  this  calleth  thee  to  turn. 
"  Dost  thou  think  thou  shalt  still  escape  the 
judgment  of  God  ?  or  despisest  thou  the 
riches  of  his  goodness,  and  forbearance, 
and  long-suffering?    not  knowing  that   the 


120  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  5. 

goodness  of  God  leadeth  thee  to  repentance. 
But,  after  thy  hardness  and  impenitent 
heart,  treasurest  up  unto  th3"self  wrath 
against  the  day  of  wrath  and  revelation  of 
tlie  righteous  judgment  of  God,  who  will 
i-ender  to  every  man  accordino^  to  his  deeds." 
Rom.  2  :  3-G. 

8.  Moreover,  it  is  the  voice  of  every  af- 
fliction to  call  thee  to  make  haste  and  turn. 
Sickness  and  pain  cry,  Turn:  and  poverty, 
and  loss  of  friends,  and  every  twig  of  the; 
chastening  rod  cry,  Turn.  And  yet  wih 
thou  not  hearken  to  the  call  ?  These  have 
come  near  thee,  and  made  thee  feel;  they 
have  made  thee  groan,  and  can  they  not 
make  thee  turn? 

9.  The  very  frame  of  thy  nature  and 
being  itself  bespeaketh  thy  n^turn.  Why 
hast  thou  reason,  but  to  rule  thy  flesh,  and 
serve  thy  Lord?  Why  hast  thou  an  under- 
standing soul,  but  to  learn  and  know  his  will 
and  do  it  ?  Why  hast  thou  a  lieart  Within 
thee  that  can  love,  and  fear,  and  desire,  but 
that  thou  shouldst  fear  liim,  and  love  him, 
and  desire  after  him  ? 

Lay  all  these  together  now,  ;ind  see  what 
should  be  the  issue.    Tlie   holy  Scriptures 


Doct.  5.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  121 

call  upon  thee  to  turn  ;  the  ministers  of 
Christ  call  upon  thee  to  turn  ;  the  Spirit  cries, 
Turn  ;  thy  conscience  cries,  Turn  ;  the  god- 
iv,  by  persuasion  and  example,  cry,  Turn  ; 
the  whole  world,  and  all  the  creatures  there- 
in that  are  presented  to  thy  consideration, 
cry.  Turn;  the  patient  Ibrbearance  ot"  God 
cries.  Turn  ;  all  the  mercies  which  tiiou  re- 
ceivest  cry.  Turn;  the  rod  of  God's  chns- 
tisement  cries.  Turn  ;  thy  reason  and  the 
frame  of  thy  nature  bespeaks  thy  turning; 
and  so  do  all  thy  promises  to  God;  and  yet 
art  thou  not  resolved  to  turn  V 

III.  Moreover,  poor  hard-hearted  sinner, 
didst  thou  ever  consider  uikhi  what  terms  thou 
standest  all  this  while  with  Him  that  calleth 
on  thee  to  turn  '(  Thou  art  his  own,  and 
owest  him  tli3^self  and  all  thou  hast;  and 
may  he  not  command  his  own?  Thou  art, 
his  absolute  servant,  and  shouhl  serve  no 
other  master.  Thou  standest  at  his  mercv, 
and  thy  life  is  in  his  hand,  and  he  is  resolv- 
ed to  save  thee  upon  no  other  terms;  thou 
hast  many  malicious  spiritual  enemies  that 
would  be  glad  if  God  would  but  forsake 
thee,  and  let  them  alone  with  thee,  and 
leave  thee  to  their  will :   how  tpiickly  would 

li.  Cull  H 


122  A    CALL    TO  (DoctS 

they  deal  with  thee  in  another  manner  !  and 
thou  canst  not  be  delivered  from  them  but 
by  turning  unto  God.  Thou  art  fallen  under 
his  wrath  by  thy  sin  already ;  and  thou 
knowest  not  how  long  his  patience  will  3^et 
wait.  Perhaps  this  is  the  last  3'ear,  perhaps 
the  last  day.  His  sword  is  even  at  thy  heart 
while  the  word  is  in  thine  ear  ;  and  if  thou 
turn  not,  thou  art  a  dead  and  undone  man. 
Were  thy  eyes  but  open  to  see  where  thou 
standest,  even  upon  the  brink  of  hell,  and 
to  see  how  many  thousands  are  there  al- 
ready that  did  not  turn,  thou  would st  see 
that  it  is  time  to  look  about  thee. 

Well,  sirs,  look  inwards  now  and  tell  me 
how  your  hearts  are  affected  with  these  of- 
fers of  the  Lord.  You  hear  what  is  his  mind  : 
he  delighteth  not  in  your  death ;  he  calls  to 
you.  Turn,  turn  :  it  is  a  fearful  sign  if  all 
this  move  thee  not,  or  if  it  do  but  half  move 
thee  ;  and  much  more  if  it  make  thee  more 
careless  in  thy  misery,  because  thou  hearest 
of  the  mercifulness  of  God.  The  workinof  of 
the  medicine  will  partly  tell  us  whether  there 
be  any  hope  of  the  cure.  O  what  glad  ti- 
dings would  it  be  to  those  that  are  now  in 
hell,  if  they  had  but  such  a  message  from 


Doct.  5.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  123 

God !  What  a  joyful  word  would  it  be  to 
hear  this,  Turn  and  live !  yea,  what  a  wel- 
come word  would  it  be  to  th^'self,  when  thou 
hadst  felt  that  wrath  of  God  but  an  hour! 
Or  if,  after  a  thousand  or  ten  thousand  years' 
torment,  thou  couldst  but  hear  such  a  word 
from  God,  "Turn  and  live;"  and  yet  wilt 
thou  neglect  it,  and  suffer  us  to  return  with- 
out our  errand  ? 

Behold,  sinners,  we  are  sent  here  as  the 
messengers  of  the  Lord  to  set  before  you 
life  and  death.  What  say  you  ?  which  of 
them  will  you  choose  ?  Christ  standeth,  as 
it  were,  by  thee,  with  heaven  in  the  one 
hand  and  hell  in  the  other,  and  offereth 
thee  thy  choice.  Which  wilt  thou  choose  ? 
The  voice  of  the  Lord  maketh  the  rocks  to 
tremble.  Psalm  29.  And  is  it  nothing  to 
hear  him  threaten  thee,  if  thou  wilt  not  turn  ? 
Dost  thou  not  understand  and  feel  this  voice, 
"  Turn  ye,  turn  ye,  why  will  ye  die  ?"  It  is 
the  voice  of  love,  of  infinite  love,  of  thy  best 
and  kindest  friend,  as  thou  mightest  easily 
perceive  by  the  motion ;  and  yet  canst  thou 
neglect  it  ?  It  is  the  voice  of  pity  and  com- 
passion. The  Lord  seeth  whither  thou  art 
going  better  than  thou  dost,  which  makes 


124  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  5. 

liim  call  after  thee,  Turn,  turn.  He  seeth 
what  will  become  of  thee,  if  thou  turn  not. 
He  thinkrth  with  himself,  "  Ah !  this  poor 
sinner  will  cast  himself  into  endless  tor- 
ments if  he  do  not  turn.  I  must  in  justice 
deal  with  him  according  to  my  righteous 
law."  And  therefore  he  calleth  after  thee, 
Turn,  turn.  O  sinner !  if  thou  didst  but 
know  the  thousandth  part  as  well  as  God 
doth  the  danger  that  is  near  you,  and  the 
misery  that  ^^ou  are  running  into,  we  should 
have  no  more  need  to  call  after  you  to  turn. 
Moreover,  this  voice  that  calleth  to  thee  is 
the  same  that  hath  prevailed  with  thousands 
already,  and  called  all  to  heaven  that  are 
now  there  ;  and  they  would  not  now  for  a 
thousand  worlds  that  the}-  had  made  hght  of 
it,  and  not  turned  to  God.  Now  what  are  they 
possessing  that  turned  at  God's  call  "?  Now 
they  perceive  that  it  was  indeed  the  voice 
of  love,  that  meant  them  no  more  harm  than 
their  salvation  ;  and  if  thou  wilt  obey  the 
same  call  thou  shalt  come  to  the  same  hap- 
piness. There  are  millions  that  must  for 
ever  lament  that  they  turned  not ;  but  there 
is  never  a  soul  in  heaven  that  is  sorry  that 
they  were  converted. 


Doct.  5.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  125 

Well,  Sirs,  are  you  yet  resolved,  or  are 
you  not?  Do  I  need  to  say  any  more  to 
you?  What  will  you  do?  Will  you  turn, 
or  not?  Speak,  man,  in  thy  heart,  to  God, 
though  you  speak  not  out  to  me  ;  speak,  lest 
he  take  thy  silence  for  denial ;  speak  quick- 
ly, lest  he  never  make  thee  the  like  offer 
more  ;  speak  resolvedly,  and  not  waveringly, 
for  he  will  have  no  indifferent  ones  to  be  his 
followers.  Say  in  thine  heart  now,  without 
any  more  delay,  even  before  thou  stir  hence, 
*'  By  the  grace  of  God  I  am  resolved  presently 
to  turn.  And  because  I  know  my  own  insuf- 
ficiency, I  am  resolved  to  wait  on  God  for  his 
grace,  and  to  follow  him  in  his  ways,  and  for- 
sake my  former  courses  and  companions  and 
give  up  myself  to  the  guidance  of  the  Lord." 

Sirs,  you  are  not  shut  up  in  the  darkness 
of  heathenism,  nor  in  the  desperation  of  the 
damned.  Life  is  before  you,  and  you  may 
have  it  on  reasonable  terms,  if  you  will ; 
yea,  on  free  cost,  if  you  will  accept  it.  The 
way  of  God  lieth  plain  before  you ;  the 
church  is  open  to  you.  You  may  have 
Christ,  and  pardon,  and  holiness,  if  you  will. 
What  say  you?  Will  you,  or  will  you  not? 
If  you  say  Nay,  or  say  nothing,  and  still  go 

11* 


126  A    CALL    TO  (Doct. «. 

on,  God  IS  witness,  and  those  who  hear  me 
are  witnesses,  and  your  own  consciences 
are  witnesses,  how*  fair  an  ofter  you  had  this 
day.  Remember,  you  might  have  had  Christ, 
and  would  not.  Remember,  when  you  have 
lost  it,  that  vou  mi^ht  have  had  eternal  life 
as  well  as  others,  and  would  not ;  and  all  this 
because  you  would  not  turn! 

But  let  us  come  to  the  next  doctrine,  and 
hear  your  reasons. 


DOCTRINE  VI. 

The  Lord  condescendeth  to  reason  the  case  with  uncon 
verted  sinners,  and  to  ask  them  why  iJicy  will  die. 

A  Strange  disputation  it  is,  both  as  to  the 
controversy  and  as  to  the  disputants. 

I.  The  controversy,  or  question  propound- 
ed is.  Why  wdcked  men  will  destroy  them- 
selves? or.  Why  they  w^ill  rather  die  than 
turn  ;  whether  they  have  any  sufficient  rea- 
son for  so  doing  ? 

II.  The  disputants  are  God  and  man  :  the 
most  holy  God,  and  wicked  unconverted 
smners. 


Doct.  6.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  127 

Is  it  not  a  strano^e  thinj?,  which  God  doth 
here  seem  to  suppose,  thnt  any  man  sliouhl 
be  wiUing  to  die  and  be  damned  V  yea,  iliat 
TJiis  should  ])e  the  case  of  all  the  wicked  ? 
that  is,  of  the  greatest  part  of  the  world. 
But  you  will  say,  "  This  cannot  be ;  for 
nature  desireth  the  preservation  and  felicity 
of  itself;  and  the  wicked  are  more  selfish 
than  others,  and  not  less  ;  and  therefore  how 
(•an  any  man  be  willing  to  be  damned  ?" 

To  which  I  answer  : — 1.  It  is  a  certain 
truth  that  no  man  can  be  willing  to  bear  any 
evil,  as  evil,  but  only  as  it  hath  some  appear- 
ance of  good  ;  much  less  can  any  man  be 
willing  to  be  eternally  tormented.  Misery, 
as  such,  is  desired  by  none.  2.  But  yet,  for 
all  that,  it  is  most  true  which  God  here 
teacheth  us,  that  the  cause  wliy  the  wicked 
die  is,  because  they  will  die.  And  this  is 
true  in  several  respects. 

1.  Because  the}^  will  go  the  way  that 
leads  to  hell,  althougli  they  are  told  by  God 
and  man  whither  it  goes  and  where  it  ends  ; 
and  though  God  hath  so  often  professed  in 
his  word,  that  if  they  hold  on  in  that  wav 
they  shall  be  condemned ;  and  that  they 
shall  not  be  saved  unless  thev  turn.  *'  There 


128  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  6. 

is  no  peace,  saith  my  God,  to  the  wicked.'* 
"  The  way  of  peace  they  know  not ;  there 
is  no  judgment  in  their  goings ;  they  have 
made  them  crooked,  paths.  Whosoever 
goeth  therein  shall  not  know^  peace."  Isa. 
4S  :  22 ;  57  :  21 ;  59  :  S.  They  have  the 
word  and  the  oath  of  the  living  God  for  it, 
that  if  they  will  not  turn  they  shall  not  en- 
ter into  his  rest :  and  yet,  wicked  they  are, 
and  wicked  they  will  be,  let  God  and  man 
sa}^  what  they  will :  fleshly  they  are,  and 
fleshly  the}^  will  be,  worldlings  they  are,  and 
worldlings  they  wall  be,  though  God  hath 
told  them  that  the  love  of  the  world  is  en- 
mity to  God,  and  that  if  any  man  love  the 
w^orld  (in  that  measure)  the  love  of  the  Fa- 
ther is  not  in  him.  James,  4  :  4  ;  1  John, 
2  :  15.  So  that,  consequently,  these  men  are 
willing  to  be  damned,  though  not  directly; 
they  are  w^illing  to  w^alk  in  the  way  to  hell, 
and  love  the  certain  cause  of  their  torment ; 
though  they  do  not  will  hell  itself,  and  do 
not  love  the  pain  which  they  must  endure. 
Is  not  this  the  truth  of  your  case,  sirs  ? 
You  would  not  burn  in  hell,  but  you  will 
kindle  the  fire  by  your  sins,  and  cast  your- 
selves into  it ;  3^ou  would  not  be  tormented 


Poet.  6.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  129 

with  devils  for  ever,  but  vou  will  do  tlint 
which  will  certainly  procure  it  in  spite  of  all 
iliHt  can  be  said  against  it.  It  is  just  as  if 
vou  would  say,  "I  will  drink  this  poison, 
but  yet  I  will  not  die.  I  will  cast  mvself 
headlong  from  the  top  of  a  steeple,  but  yet 
1  will  not  kill  myself.  I  will  thrust  this 
knife  into  my  heart,  but  yet  I  will  not  take 
away  my  life.  I  will  put  this  fire  into  the 
1  hatch  of  my  house,  but  yet  I  will  not  burn 
ii."  Just  so  it  is  with  wicked  men  ;  they 
MJU  be  wicked,  and  they  will  live  after  the 
ilosh  and  the  world,  and  yet  they  would  not 
be  damned.  But  do  you  not  know  that  the 
means  lead  to  the  end?  and  that  God  hath, 
by  his  righteous  law,  concluded  that  ^o\\ 
must  repent  or  perish?  He  that  will  take 
])oison  may  as  well  say  plainly,  I  will  kill 
myself,  for  it  will  prove  no  better  in  the  end  ; 
though  perhaps  he  loved  it  for  the  sweetness 
of  the  sugar  that  was  mixed  with  it,  and 
would  not  be  persuaded  that  it  was  poison, 
but  that  he  might  take  it  and  do  well  enough  ; 
but  it  is  not  his  conceits  and  confidence  that 
will  save  his  life.  So  if  you  will  be  drunk- 
ards, or  fornicators,  or  worldlings,  or  live 
after  the  flesh,  you  may  as  well  say  plainlv, 


130  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  6. 

We  will  be  damned ;  for  so  you  will  be  un- 
less you  turn.  Would  you  not  rebuke  the 
folly  of  a  murderer  that  would  say  I  wdll 
kill,  but  I  will  not  be  hanged,  when  he 
knows  that  if  he  does  the  one,  the  judge  in 
justice  will  see  that  the  other  be  done  ?  If 
he  say  I  will  murder,  he  may  as  well  sayi 
plainly,  I  will  be  hanged  ;  and  if  you  will 
go  on  in  a  carnal  life,  you  may  as  well  say 
plainly.  We  will  go  to  hell. 

2.  Moreover,  the  wicked  will  not  use  those 
means  without  which  there  is  no  hope  of 
their  salvation.  He  that  will  not  eat,  may 
as  well  say  plainl}^,  he  will  not  live,  unless 
he  can  tell  how  to  live  without  meat.  He 
that  will  not  go  his  journey,  may  as  well  say 
plainly  he  will  not  come  to  the  end.  He  that 
falls  into  the  w^ater,  and  will  not  come  out, 
nor  suffer  another  to  help  him  out,  may  as 
well  say  plainly,  he  will  be  drowned.  So  if 
you  be  carnal  and  ungodly,  and  will  not  be 
converted,  nor  use  the  means  by  which  you 
should  be  converted,  but  think  it  more  ado 
than  needs,  you  may  as  well  say  plainly  you 
will  be  damned  ;  for  if  you  have  found  out 
a  Avay  to  be  saved  without  conversion,  you 
have  done  thatwdiich  was  never  done  before. 


Doct.  6.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  131 

3.  Yea,  this  is  not  all ;  but  the  wicked  are 
unwilling  even  to  partake  of  salvation  itself; 
though  they  may  desire  somewhat  which 
they  call  by  the  name  of  heaven,  yet  heaven 
itself,  considered  in  the  true  nature  of  the 
felicity,  they  desire  not;  yea,  their  hearts 
are  quite  against  it.  Heaven  is  a  state  of  per- 
fect holiness,  and  of  continual  love  and  praise 
to  God,  and  the  wicked  have  no  heart  to 
this.  The  imperfect  love,  and  praise,  and 
holiness  which  is  here  to  be  attained,  they 
have  no  mind  for ;  much  less  for  that  which 
is  so  much  greater.  The  joys  of  heaven  are 
of  so  pure  and  spiritual  a  nature  that  the 
heart  of  the  wicked  cannot  truly  desire  them. 

So  that  by  this  time  you  may  see  on  what 
ground  it  is  that  God  supposeth  that  the 
wicked  will  their  own  destruction.  They 
will  not  turn,  though  they  must  turn  or  die  : 
they  will  rather  venture  on  certain  misery 
than  be  converted  ;  and  then  to  quiet  them- 
selves in  their  sins,  they  will  make  them- 
selves believe  that  they  shall  nevertheless 
escape. 

II.  And  as  this  controversy  is  matter  of 
wonder,  in  that  men  should  be  such  enemies 
to  themselves  as  wilfully  to  cast  away  their 


132  A    CALL    TO  (BoclG. 

souls,  SO  are  the  disputants  too  :  that  God 
should  stoop  so  low  as  thus  to  plead  the 
case  with  men  ;  and  that  men  should  be  so 
strangely  blind  and  obstinate  as  to  need  aU 
tliis  in  so  plain  a  case  ;  yea,  and  to  resist  all 
this,  when  their  own  salvation  lieth  upon  the 
issue. 

No  wonder  if  they  will  not  hear  us  thut 
are  men,  when  they  will  not  hear  the  Lord 
himself.  As  God  saith,  when  he  sent  the 
prophet  to  the  Israelites,  "  The  house  of 
Israel  will  not  hearken  unto  thee  ;  for  they 
will  not  hearken  unto  me  ;  for  all  the  house 
of  Israel  are  impudent  and  hard-hearted." 
Ezek.  3:7.  No  wonder  if  they  can  plead 
ao:ainst  a  minister,  or  a  sfodlv  neio^hbor,  when 
they  will  plead  against  the  Lord  himself, 
even  against  the  plainest  passages  of  his 
word,  and  think  that  they  have  reason  on 
their  side.  When  they  weary  the  Lord  with 
their  words,  thev  say,  "  Wherein  have  we 
wearied  him?"  Mai.  -J  :  17.  The  priests 
that  despised  his  name  durst  ask,  *' Where- 
in have  \VQ  despised  thy  name?"  And 
'•when  they  polluted  his  altar,  and  made; 
the  table  of  the  Lord  contemptible,"  thev 
durst    SO}',    "  Wherein    have    we    polluted 


Doct.  6.)  THE    U^CONVERTED.  133 

theeV*  Mai.  1:0,7.  But  "Wo  unto  him 
(saith  the  Lord)  that  striveth  with  his  Ma- 
ker !  Let  the  potsherds  strive  with  the  pot- 
sherds of  the  earth:  shall  the  clay  say  to 
him  that  fashioneth  it,  What  uiakest  thou?" 
Lsa.  45  :  9. 

Question.  But  why  is  it  that  God  will  rea- 
son the  case  with  man  V 

Answ.  1.  Because  man  being  a  reasonable 
creature,  is  to  be  dealt  with  accordingly,  antl 
by  reason  to  be  persuaded  and  overcome  ; 
God  hath  therefore  endowed  them  with  rea- 
son, that  they  might  use  it  for  him.  One 
would  think  a  reasonable  creature  should 
not  go  against  the  clearest,  the  greatest  rea- 
son in  the  world,  v/hen  it  is  set  before  him. 

2.  At  least,  men  shall  see  that  God  did 
require  nothing  of  them  that  was  unreason- 
able ;  but  both  in  what  he  commandeth  them, 
and  what  he  forbids  them,  he  hath  all  the 
right  reason  in  the  world  on  his  side  ;  mid 
they  have  good  reason  to  obey  him — but 
none  to  disobey  him.  And  thus  even  iln- 
damned  shall  be  forced  to  justilV  God,  .-ind 
confess  that  it  was  only  reasomihlc  tliiit 
liiey  should  have  turned  to  him  ;  and  thev 
shall  be  forced  to  condemn  themselves,  and 

D.  Cull.  12 


134  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.6. 

confess  that  they  had  little  reason  to  cast 
away  themselves  by  the  neglecting  of  his 
grace  in  the  day  of  their  visitation. 

Look  up  your  best  and  strongest  reasons, 
sinners,  if  you  will  make  good  your  way. 
You  see  now  with  whom  you  have  to  deal. 
What  sayest  thou,  unconverted  sensual  sin- 
ner? Darest  thou  venture  upon  a  dispute 
with  God  ?  Art  thou  able  to  confute  him  ? 
Art  thou  ready  to  enter  the  lists  ?  God  ask- 
eth  thee.  Why  wilt  thou  die  ?  Art  thou  fur- 
nished with  a  sufficient  answer  ?  Wilt  thou 
undertake  to  prove  that  God  is  mistaken, 
and  that  thou  art  in  the  right  ?  O  what  an 
undertaking  is  that !  Why,  either  he  or  j^ou 
are  mistaken,  when  he  is  for  your  conver- 
sion, and  you  are  against  it ;  he  calls  upon 
vou  to  turn,  and  you  will  not ;  he  bids  you 
do  it  presently,  even  to-day,  while  it  is  call- 
ed to-day,  and  you  delay,  and  think  it  time 
enouQ-h  hereafter.  He  saith  it  must  be  a 
total  change,  and  you  must  be  holy  and  new 
creatures,  and  born  again;  and  you  think  that 
less  may  serve  the  turn,  and  that  it  is  enough 
to  patch  up  the  old  man,  without  becoming 
new.    Who   is   in  the    right  now?   God  or 


Doct.  6.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  135 

you?  God  calleth  you  to  turn,  and  to  live 
a  holy  life,  and  you  will  not.  By  your  dis- 
obedient lives  it  appears  you  will  not.  If 
you  will,  why  do  you  not?  Why  have  you 
not  done  it  all  this  while  ?  And  why  do  you 
not  fall  upon  it  yet?  Your  wills  have  the 
command  of  your  lives.  We  may  certainly 
conclude  that  you  are  unwilling  to  turn  when 
you  do  not  turn.  And  why  will  you  not  ? 
Can  you  give  any  reason  for  it  that  is  wor- 
thy to  be  called  a  reason  ? 

I  that  am  but  a  worm,  your  fellow-crea- 
ture, of  a  shallow  capacity,  dare  challenge 
the  wisest  of  you  all  to  reason  the  case  with 
me  while  I  plead  my  Maker's  cause  ;  and 
I  need  not  be  discouraged  when  I  know  I 
plead  but  the  cause  that  God  pleadeth,  and 
contend  for  him  that  will  have  the  best  at 
last.  Had  I  but  these  two  general  grounds 
against  you,  I  am  sure  that  you  have  no 
good  reason  on  your  side. 

1.  I  am  sure  it  can  be  no  c^ood  reason 
which  is  against  the  God  of  truth  and  rea- 
son. It  cannot  be  light  that  is  contrary  to 
the  sun.  There  is  no  knowledge  in  any 
creature  but  what  it  had  from  God  ;  and 
therefore  none  can  be  wiser  than  God.    It 


136  A    CALL    TO  (DocL  6. 

were  fatal  presumption  for  the  highest  an- 
gel to  compare  with  his  Creator!  What  is  it 
then  for  a  lump  of  earth,  an  ignorant  sot, 
that  knoweth  not  himself  nor  his  own  soul, 
that  knoweth  but  little  of  the  things  which 
he  seeth,  yea,  that  is  more  ignorant  than 
many  of  his  neighbors,  to  set  himself  against 
the  wisdom  of  the  Lord !  It  is  one  of  the 
fullest  discoveries  of  tlie  horrible  wicked- 
ness of  carnal  men,  and  the  madness  of  such 
as  sin,  that  so  silly  a  mole  dare  contradict 
his  Maker,  and  call  in  question  the  word  of 
God  :  yea,  that  those  people  that  are  so  ig- 
norant that  they  cannot  give  us  a  reasonable 
answer  concerning  the  very  first  principles 
of  religion,  are  yet  so  wise  in  their  own  con- 
ceit that  they  dare  question  the  plainest 
truths  of  God,  yea,  contradict  them  and 
cavil  against  them,  when  they  can  scarcely 
speak  sense,  and  will  believe  them  no  fur- 
ther than  agreeth  with  their  foolish  wisdom ! 
2.  And  as  I  know  that  God  must  needs  be 
in  the  right,  so  I  know  the  case  is  so  pal- 
pable and  gross  which  he  pleadeth  against 
that  no  man  can  have  reason  for  it.  Is  it 
possible  that  a  man  can  have  any  reason  to 
break  his  Maker's  laws,  and  reason  to  dis- 


Docuti)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  137 

honor  the  Lord  of  glory,  and  reason  to  abuse 
the  Lord  that  bought  him?  Is  it  possible 
that  a  man  can  have  any  good  reason  to 
damn  his  own  immortal  soul?  Mark  the 
Lord's  question,  Turn  ye,  turn  ye,  why  will 
vou  die?  Is  eternal  death  a  thins:  to  be  de- 
sired?  Are  3^ou  in  love  with  hell?  What 
reason  have  you  wilfully  to  perish  ?  If  you 
think  you  have  some  reason  to  sin,  should 
you  not  remember  that  deatli  is  the  wages 
of  sin,  (Rom.  6  :  23,)  and  think  whether  you 
have  any  reason  to  undo  yourselves,  body 
and  soul,  for  ever  ?  You  should  not  only  ask 
whether  you  love  the  adder,  but  whether 
you  love  the  sting  ?  It  is  such  a  thing  for  a 
man  to  cast  away  his  everlasting  happiness, 
and  to  sin  against  God,  that  no  good  reason 
can  be  given  for  it ;  but  the  more  any  one 
pleads  for  it,  the  more  mad  he  showeth  him- 
self to  be.  Had  you  a  kingdom  offered  jthi 
for  every  sin  that  you  commit,  it  were  not 
reason  but  madness  to  accept  it.  Could  you 
by  every  sin  obtain  the  highest  thing  on 
earth  that  flesh  desireth,  it  were  of  no  con- 
siderable value  to  persuade  you  in  reason  to 
commit  it.  If  it  were  to  please  your  greatest 
or  dearest  friends,  or  to  obey  the  greatest 

12* 


138  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.fi. 

prince  on  earth,  or  to  save  3'our  lives,  or  to 
escape  the  greatest  earthly  misery ;  all  these 
are  of  no  consideration  to  draw  a  man  in 
reason  to  the  committinfr  of  one  sin.  If  it 
were  a  right  hand  or  a  right  eye  that  would 
hinder  your  salvation,  it  is  the  most  gainful 
way  to  cast  it  away,  rather  than  to  go  to 
hell  to  save  it ;  for  there  is  no  saving  a  part 
when  you  lose  the  whole.  So  exceedingly 
greai  are  the  matters  of  eternit}^  that  no- 
thing in  this  world  deserveth  once  to  be 
named  in  comparison  with  them  ;  nor  can 
any  earthly  thing,  though  it  were  life,  or 
crowns,  or  kingdoms,  be  a  reasonable  ex- 
cuse for  the  neglect  of  matters  of  such  high 
and  everlasting  con.sequence.  A  man  can 
have  no  reason  to  cross  his  ultimate  end. 
Heaven  is  such  a  thing,  that  if  you  lose  it, 
nothing  can  supply  the  want,  or  make  up 
the  loss  ;  and  hell  is  such  a  thing,  that  if  you 
suffer  it,  nothing  can  remove  your  misery, 
or  give  }  ou  ease  and  comfort ;  and  therefore 
nothing  can  be  a  valuable  consideration  to 
excuse  you  for  neglecting  your  own  salva- 
tion ;  for,  saith  our  Savior,  "  What  shall  it 
profit  a  man  if  he  shall  gain  the  whole  world, 
and  lose  his  own  soul?"  Mark,  8  :  86. 


Doct.  6.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  139 

O  sirs,  did  you  but  know  what  matters 
they  are  that  we  are  now  speaking  to  you  of, 
you  would  have  other  thoughts  of  these 
thin2:3.  If  the  devil  could  come  to  the  saints 
in  heaven  that  live  in  the  sight  and  lovo  of 
God,  and  should  oflcr  them  sensual  plea- 
sures, or  merry  company,  or  sports  to  entice 
them  away  from  God  and  glory,  I  pray  you 
tell  me,  bow  do  you  think  they  would  enter- 
tain the  motion?  Nay,  or  if  he  should  offer 
them  to  be  kings  on  the  earth,  do  you  think 
this  would  entice  them  down  from  heaven? 
O  with  what  hatred  and  holy  scorn  would 
they  reject  the  motion !  and  why  should  not 
you  do  so,  that  have  heaven  open  to  your 
faith,  if  you  had  but  faith  to  see  it?  There 
is  not  a  soul  in  hell  but  knows,  by  this  time, 
that  it  was  a  mad  exchange  to  let  go  heaven 
for  fledily  pleasure ;  and  that  it  is  not  a 
little  mirth,  or  pleasure,  or  worldly  riches,  or 
honor,  or  the  good  will  or  word  of  men,  that 
will  quench  hell  fire,  or  make  him  a  gainer 
that  loseth  his  soul.  O  if  you  had  heard 
what  I  believe,  if  you  had  seen  what  I  be- 
lieve, and  that  on  the  credit  of  the  word  of 
God,  you  would  say  there  can  be  no  rea- 
son to  warrant  a  man  to  destroy  liis  soul  ; 


1-40  A     CALL    TO  (Doct.  6. 

you   durst  not    sleep  quietly   another  night, 

before  vou  had  resolved  to  turn  and   live. 

.J 

If  you  see  a  man  put  his  hand  in  the  fire 
till  it  burn  off,  you  will   marvel  at  it ;  but 
this  is  a  thing  that  a  man   may  have  reason 
for,  as  Bishop  Cranmer  had  when  he  burnt 
off  his  hand  for  subscribing  to  popeiy.    If 
you  see  a  man  cut  off  a  leg  or  an  arm,  it  is  a 
sad  sight ;  but  this  is  a  thing  that  a  man  may 
have  a  good  reason  for,  as  many  a  man  hath 
it  done  to  save  his  life.  If  3^ou  see  a  man  give 
his  bodv  to  be  tormented  with  scours^es  and 
racks,  or  to  be  burned  to  ashes,  and  refuse 
deliverance  when  it  is  offered,  this  is  a  hard 
case  to  flesh  and  blood  ;  but  this  a  man  may 
have  good  reason  for,  as  you  may  see  in 
Heb.  11  :  33-36,  and    as  many  a  hundred 
martyrs  have  done.  But  for  a  man  to  forsake 
the  Lord  that  made  him,  and  to  run  into  the 
lire  of  hell  when  he  is  told  of  it,  and  entreat- 
ed to  turn  that  he  may  be  saved — this  is  a 
thin2f  that  can  have  no  reason  in  the  world  to 
justify  or  excuse  it.    For  heaven  will  pay  for 
the  loss  of  any  thing  that  we  can  lose  to  ob- 
tain it,  or  for  any  labor  which  we  bestow  for 
it ;  but  nothing  can  pay  for  the  loss  of  heaven. 
I    beseech   you   now  let  his  word  come 


Docte.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  141 

nearer  to  your  heart.  As  you  are  convinced 
that  you  have  no  reason  to  destroy  your- 
selves, so  tell  me  what  reason  have  you  to 
refuse  to  turn  and  live  to  God?  What  reason 
has  the  veriest  worldling,  or  drunkard,  or  ig- 
norant careless  sinner  of  you  all,  why  he 
should  not  be  as  holy  as  any  you  know,  and 
be  as  careful  for  his  soul  as  any  other  ?  Will 
not  hell  be  as  intolerable  to  you  as  to  others  ? 
Should  not  your  own  souls  be  as  dear  to  you 
as  theirs  to  them  ?  Hath  not  God  as  much 
authority  over  you  ?  Why  then  will  you  not 
become  a  sanctified  people,  as  well  as  they  ? 

O,  sirs,  when  God  bringeth  the  matter 
down  to  the  very  principles  of  nature,  and 
shows  that  you  have  no  more  reason  to  be 
ungodly  than  you  have  to  damn  your  own 
souls — if  yet  you  will  not  understand  and 
turn,  it  seems  a  desperate  case  that  you  are  in. 

And  now,  either  3''ou  have  good  reason  for 
what  you  do,  or  you  have  not:  if  not,  will 
you  go  against  reason  itself?  Will  you  do 
that  which  you  have  no  reason  for?  But  if 
you  think  you  have  a  reason,  produce  it,  and 
make  the  best  of  your  matter.  Reason  the 
case  a  little  with  me,  your  fellow-creature, 
which  is  far  easier  than  to  reason  the  case 


142  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  6 

with  God ;   tell  me,  man,   here   before  the 
Lord,  as  if  thou  wert  to  die  this^  hour,  why 
shouldst  thou  not  resolve  to  turn  this  day, 
before  thou  stir  from  the  place  thou  stand- 
cst  in  ;  what  reason  hast  thou  to  deny  or  to 
delay  ?    Hast  thou  any  reasons  that  satisfy 
thine  own  conscience  for  it,  or  any  that  thou 
darest  own  and  plead  at  the  bar  of  God  ? 
If  thou  hast,  let  us  hear  them,  bring  them 
forth    and    make   them    good.      But,    alas  ! 
w^iat  poor  stuff,  what  nonsense,  instead  of 
reasons,   do  we    daily    hear   from    ungodly 
men  !    But  for  the  worth  of  their  immortal 
souls,  I  should  be  ashamed  to  name  them. 

Objection.  1.  One  saith,  if  none  shall  be 
saved  but  such  converted  and  sanctified 
ones  as  you  talk  of,  heaven  will  be  but 
empty  :  then  God  help  a  great  many ! 

Answer.  Why,  it  seems  you  think  that 
God  doth  not  know,  or  else  that  he  is  not 
to  be  believed !  Measure  not  all  by  your- 
selves: God  hath  thousands  and  millions  of 
his  sanctified  ones  ;  but  yet  they  are  few 
m  comparison  of  the  world,  as  Christ  him- 
self hath  told  us,  Matt.  7  :  13,  14.  It  better 
beseems  you  to  make  that  use  of  this  truth 
which  Christ  teacheth  you:  "Strive  to  en- 


Doct.  6.)  THK    UNCONVERTED.  143 

ter  in  at  the  strait  gate ;  for  strait  is  the  gate 
and  narrow  is  the  way  that  leadeth  unto 
lite,  and  few  there  be  that  find  it ;  but  wide 
is  the  gate  and  broad  is  the  way  which  lead- 
eth to  destruction,  and  many  there  be  that 
go  in  thereat."  Luke,  13  :  22-24.  Fear  not, 
little  flock,  (saith  Christ  to  his  sanctified 
ones,)  for  it  is  your  Father's  good  pleasure 
10  give  you  the  kingdom.  Luke,  12  :  32. 

Objection  2.  I  am  sure,  if  such  as  I  go  to 
hell,  we  shall  have  store  of  company. 

Answer.  And  will  that  be  any  ease  or 
comfort  to  3^ou?  Or  do  you  think  you  mav 
not  have  company  enough  in  heaven  ?  Will 
you  be  undone  for  company,  or  will  ^^ou  not 
believe  that  God  will  execute  his  threaten- 
ings  because  there  be  so  many  that  are  guil- 
ty?   These  are  all  unreasonable  conceits. 

Objection  3.  But  all  men  are  sinners, 
even  the  best  of  you  all. 

Answer.  But  all  are  not  unconverted  sin- 
ners. The  godly  live  not  in  gross  sins ;  and 
their  very  infirmities  are  their  grief  and  bur- 
den, which  they  daily  long,  and  pray,  and 
strive  to  be  rid  of.  Sin  hath  not  dominion 
over  them. 

Objection  4.  I  do  not  see  that  professors 


144  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.6. 

are  any  better  than  other  men  ;  they  wilJ 
overreach,  and  oppress,  and  are  as  covetous 
as  any. 

Ansiver.  Whatever  hypocrites  are,  it  is 
not  so  with  those  that  are  sanctified.  God 
hath  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands  that 
are  otherwise,  though  the  mahcious  world 
accuse  them  of  what  they  can  never  prove, 
and  of  that  which  never  entered  into  their 
hearts;  and  commonly  they  charge  them 
with  heart  sins,  which  none  can  see  but 
God,  because  they  can  charge  them  with  no 
such  wickedness  in  their  lives  as  they  are 
guilty  of  themselves. 

Objection  5.  But  I  am  no  whoremonger, 
nor  drunkard,  nor  oppressor ;  and  therefore 
why  should  3^ou  call  upon  me  to  be  converted  V 

Answer.  As  if  vou  were  not  born  after  the 
flesh,  and  had  not  lived  after  the  flesh,  as 
well  as  others !  Is  it  not  as  great  a  sin  as 
any  of  these,  for  a  man  to  have  an  earthly 
mind,  and  to  love  the  world  above  God,  and 
to  have  an  unbelieving,  unhumbled  heart? 
iVa}?-,  let  me  tell  you  more,  that  many  per- 
sons that  avoid  disgraceful  sins  are  as  fast 
glued  to  the  world,  and  as  much  slaves  to 
the  flesh,  and  as  strange  to  God,  and  averse 


Doct6.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  145 

to  heaven  in  their  more  eivil  course,  as 
others  are  in  their  more  shameful  notorious 
sins. 

Ohjectlon  6.  But  I  mean  nobody  any 
harm,  nor  do  any  harm ;  and  why  then 
should  God  condemn  me  ? 

Answer.  Is  it  no  harm  to  neglect  the  Lord 
that  made  thee,  and  the  work  for  which  thou 
camest  into  the  world,  and  to  prefer  the  crea- 
ture before  the  Creator,  and  to  neglect  grace 
that  is  daily  offered  thee?  It  is  the  depth  of 
thy  sinfulness  to  be  so  insensible  of  it :  the 
dead  feel  not  that  they  are  dead.  If  once 
ihou  wert  made  alive,  thou  wouldst  see 
more  amiss  in  thyself,  and  marvel  at  thy- 
self for  making  so  light  of  it. 

Objection  7.  I  think  you  would  make  men 
mad,  under  pretence  of  converting  them  :  it 
is  enough  to  rack  the  brains  of  simple  peo- 
ple to  muse  so  much  on  matters  too  high  for 
them. 

Answer  1.  Can  you  be  more  mad  than 
you  are  already  ?  or,  at  least,  can  there  be 
a  more  dangerous  madness  than  to  neglect 
your  everlasting  welfare  and  wilfully  undo 
yourselves  ? 

2.  A  man  is  never  truly  in  his  right  mind 

B.  Can.  13 


146  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  6. 

till  he  be  converted :  he  never  knowa  God, 
nor  knows  sin,  nor  knows  Christ,  nor  knows 
the  world,  nor  himself,  nor  what  his  busines^ 
is  on  Nearth,  so  as  to  set  himself  ab6ut  it, 
till  he  be  converted.  The  Scripture  saith 
that  the  wicked  are  unreasonable  men,  and 
that  the  w^isdom  of  the  world  is  foolishness 
with  God.  2  Thes.  3  :  2 ;  1  Cor.  1  :  20,  and 
Luke,  15  :  17.  It  is  said  of  the  prodigal, 
that  when  he  came  to  himself  he  resolved  to 
return.  What  a  strange  wisdom  is  this ; 
men  will  disobey  God,  and  run  to  Itell,  for 
fear  of  being  accounted  fools  ! 

3.  What  is  there  in  the  work  that  Christ 
calls  you  to,  that  should  drive  a  man  out 
of  his  senses  ?  Is  it  loving  God,  and  calling 
upon  him,  and  comfortably  thinking  of  the 
glory  to  come,  and  the  forsaking  of  our  sins, 
and  loving  one  another,  and  delighting  our- 
selves in  the  service  of  -God  ?  Are  these 
such  things  as  should  make  men  mad '? 

4.  And  whereas  you  say  that  these  mat- 
ters are  too  high  for  us ;  you  accuse  God 
himself  for  maki-rig  thi^ur  work,  and  giving 

•  us  his  word,  and  commanding  all  that  will 
be  blessed  to  meditate  on  it  day  and  night. 
Are  the  matters  which  we  are  made  for,  and 


Doct.  C.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  147 

which  we  live  for,  too  high  for  us  to  meddle 
with?  This  is  plainly  to  unman  us,  and  to 
make  beasts  of  us,  as  if  we  were  like  them 
that  must  meddle  with  no  higher  matters  than 
what  belono^s  to  flesh  and  earth.  If  heaven 
be  too  high  for  you  to  think  on  and  provide 
for,  it  will  be  too  high  for  3^ou  ever  to  possess. 

5.  If  God  should  sometimes  suffer  any 
weak-headed  person  to  be  distracted  by 
thinking  of  eternal  things,  this  is  because 
they  misunderstand  them,  and  run  without 
a  guide  ;  and  of  the  two,  I  had  rather  be  in 
the  case  of  such  a  one,  than  of  the  mad  un- 
converted world,  that  take  their  distraction 
to  be  their  wisdom. 

Objection  8.  I  do  not  think  that  God  cares 
so  much  what  men  think,  or  speak,  or  do,  as 
to  make  so  great  a  matter  of  it. 

Answer.  It  seems,  then,  you  take  the  word 
of  God  to  be  false  :  then  what  will  you  be- 
lieve ?  But  your  own  reason  might  teach  you 
better,  if  you  believe  not  the  Scriptures  ;  for 
you  see  God  sets  not  so  light  by  us  but  that 
he  vouchsafed  to  make  us,  and  still  pre- 
serveth  us,  and  daily  upholdeth  us,  and  pro-* 
videth  for  us  ;  and  will  any  wise  man  make 
a  curious  frame  for  nothing  ?    Will  you  make 


148  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  6. 

or  buy  a  clock  or  watch,  and  daily  look  at 
it,  and  not  care  whether  it  go  true  or  false? 
Surely,  if  you  believe  not  a  particular  eye 
of  Providence  obser\'ing  your  hearts  and 
lives,  you  cannot  believe  or  expect  any  par- 
ticular Providence  toobserve  your  wants  and 
troubles,  or  to  relieve  you ;  and  if  God  had 
so  little  care  for  you  as  you  imagine,  3"ou 
would  never  have  lived  till  now ;  a  hundred 
diseases  would  have  striven  which  should 
first  destroy  you;  yea,  the  devils  would 
have  haunted  you,  and  fetched  you  away 
alive,  as  the  great  fishes  devour  the  less, 
and  as  ravenous  beasts  and  birds  devour 
others.  You  cannot  think  that  God  made 
man  for  no  end  or  use,  and  if  he  made  him 
for  any,  it  was  surely  for  himself;  and  can 
you  think  he  cares  not  whether  his  end  be 
accomplished,  and  whether  we  do  the  work 
that  we  are  made  for? 

Yea,  by  this  atheistical  objection  you  sup- 
pose God  to  have  made  and  upheld  all  the 
world  in  vain ;  for  what  are  all  other  lower 
creatures  for,  but  for  man  ?  What  doth  the 
earth  but  bear  us  and  nourish  us,  and  the 
beasts  but  serve  us  with  their  labors  and 
lives,   and  so  of  the  rest?    And  hath  God 


Doct.  6.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  149 

made  so  glorious  a  habitation,  and  set  man 
to  dwell  in  it,  and  made  all  his  servants  ; 
and  now  doth  he  look  for  nothing  at  his 
hands,  nor  care  how  he  thinks,  or  speaks,  or 
lives?    This  is  most  unreasonable. 

Objection  9.  It  was  a  better  world  when 
men  did  not  make  so  much  ado  in  religion. 

Answer  1.  It  hath  ever  been  the  custom  to 
praise  the  times  past ;  that  world  that  you 
speak  of  was  wont  to  say  it  was  a  better 
world  in  their  forefather's  days ;  and  so  did 
they  of  their  forefathers.  This  is  but  an  old 
custom,  because  we  all  feel  the  evil  of  our 
own  times,  but  we  see  not  that  which  was 
before  us. 

2.  Perhaps  you  speak  as  you  think. 
Worldlings  think  the  world  is  at  the  best 
when  it  is  agreeable  to  their  minds,  and 
when  they  have  most  mirth  and  worldty 
pleasure ;  and  I  doubt  not  but  the  devil,  as 
well  as  you,  would  say  that  then  it  was  a 
better  world  ;  for  then  he  had  more  service 
and  less  disturbance.  But  the  world  is  at 
the  best  when  God  is  most  loved,  regarded, 
and  obeyed ;  and  how  else  will  you  know 
when  the  world  is  good  or  bad,  but  by  this? 

Objection  10.  There  are  so  many  ways  and 


150  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  e. 

religion?,  that  we  know  not  which  to  l)e  of, 
and  therefore  we  will  be  even  as  we  are. 

Answer.  Because  there  are  many,  will  yon 
be  of  that  way  that  you  may  be  sure  is  wrong  V 
None  are  further  out  of  the  way  than  world- 
ly, fleshly,  unconverted  sinners  ;  for  they  do 
not  only  err  in  this  or  that  opinion,  as  many 
sects  do,  but  in  the  very  scope  and  drift  of 
their  lives.  If  you  were  going  a  journey  that 
your  life  lay  on,  would  you  stop  or  turn 
again  because  you  met  with  some  cross- 
waj's,  or  because  you  saw  some  travellers 
go  the  horse-wa}^,  and  some  the  foot-wa}', 
and  some  perhaps  break  over  the  hedge, 
3^ea,  and  some  miss  the  way  ?  Or  would  you 
not  rather  be  the  more  careful  to  inquire  the 
way  ?  If  you  have  some  servants  that  know 
not  how  to  do  your  work  right,  and  some 
that  are  unfaithful,  would  you  take  it  well 
of  any  of  the  rest  that  would  therefore  be 
idle  and  do  you  no  service,  because  they 
see  their  companions  so  bad  ? 

Ohjcction  11.  I  do  not  see  that  it  goes  any 
better  with  those  that  are  so  godly,  than 
with  other  men ;  they  are  as  poor  and  in  as 
much  trouble  as  others. 

Anstver.  And  perhaps  in  much  more,  when 


Poet,  fi.)  Tni:   r.\c()NVERTF.n.  151 

God  sncs  it  meet.  Tliov  take  not  earthly 
prosperity  for  their  wages  ;  they  have  laid 
up  their  treasure  and  hopes  in  another  world, 
or  else  they  arc  not  christians  indeed  ;  the 
less  they  have,  the  more  is  behind,  and  they 
are  content  to  wait  till  then. 

Objection  12.  When  you  have  said  all  that 
you  can,  I  am  resolved  to  hope  well,  and 
trust  in  God,  and  do  as  well  as  I  can,  and 
not  make  so  much  ado. 

Answer  1.  Is  that  doing  as  well  as  you  can, 
when  you  will  not  turn  to  God,  but  your 
heart  is  against  his  holv  and  dili2:ent  ser- 
vice?  It  is  as  well  as  you  will,  indeed,  but 
that  is  your  misery. 

2.  My  desire  is,  that  you  should  hope  and 
trust  in  God.  But  for  what  is  it  that  you 
will  hope?  Is  it  to  be  saved,  if  you  turn  and 
be  sanctified  ?  For  this  you  have  God's  pro- 
mise, and  therefore  I  say,  hope  for  it,  and 
spare  not.  But  if  you  hope  to  be  saved 
without  conversion  and  a  holy  life,  this  is  not 
to  hope  in  God,  but  in  Satan,  or  yourselves  ; 
for  God  hath  given  you  no  such  promise,  but 
told  you  the  contrary;  but  it  is  Satan  and 
self-love  that  made  yon  such  promises,  and 
raised  you  to  such  hopes. 


152  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  e 

Well,  if  these  objections,  and  such  as 
these,  be  all  you  have  to  say  ngainst  con- 
version and  a  holy  life,  your  all  is  nothing, 
and  worse  than  nothing ;  and  if  these,  and 
such  as  these,  seem  reasons  sufiicient  to 
persuade  you  to  forsake  God  and  cast  your- 
selves into  hell,  the  Lord  deliver  you  from 
such  reasons,  and  from  such  blind  under- 
standings, and  from  such  senseless,  hardened 
hearts.  Dare  you  stand  to  aver  one  of  these 
reasons  at  the  bar  of  God  ?  Do  you  think  it 
will  then  serve  your  turn  to  say,  "  Lord,  1 
did  not  turn,  because  I  had  so  much  to  do 
in  the  world,  or  because  I  did  not  like  the 
lives  of  some  professors,  or  because  I  saw 
men  of  so  many  minds!"  O  how  easily  will 
the  light  of  that  day  confound  and  shame 
such  reasonings  as  these !  Had  you  the 
w^orld  to  look  after?  Let  the  world  which 
you  served  now  pay  you  your  wages,  and 
save  you  if  it  can.  Had  you  not  a  better 
world  to  look  after  first,  and  were  you  not 
commanded  to  seek  first  God's  kingdom  and 
righteousness,  and  promised  that  other  things 
should  be  added  to  you '?  Matt.  6  :  33.  And 
were  you  not  told  that  godliness  is  pro 
fitable  to  all  things,  having  the  promise  of 


Doct.  6.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  153 

this  life,  and  that  which  is  to  come?  1  Tim. 
4  :  8.  Did  the  sins  of  professors  hinder  you? 
You  should  rather  have  been  the  more  heed- 
ful, and  learned  by  their  falls  to  beware, 
and  have  been  the  more  careful,  and  not  the 
more  careless.  It  was  the  Scripture,  and 
not  their  lives,  that  was  j^our  rule.  Did  the 
many  opinions  of  the  world  hinder  you  ? 
Why,  the  Scripture  that  was  your  rule  did 
teach  you  but  one  way,  and  that  was  the 
right  way.  If  you  had  followed  thsft,  even 
in  so  much  as  was  plain  and  easy,  3'ou 
would  never  have  miscarried.  Will  not 
such  answers  as  these  confound  and  silence 
3^ou?  If  these  wdll  not,  God  hath  those  that 
will.  When  he  asked  the  man,  "  Friend, 
how  camest  thou  in  hither,  not  having  on  a 
wedding  garment?"  Matt.  22:12,  that  is, 
what  doest  thou  in  my  church  among  pro- 
fessed christians,  without  a  holy  heart  and 
life — what  answer  did  he  make?  Why,  the 
text  saith,  "  he  was  speechless ;"  he  had 
nothing  to  say.  The  clearness  of  the  case 
and  the  majesty  of  God  will  then  easily 
stop  the  mouths  of  the  most  confident  of  you, 
though  you  will  not  be  put  down  by  any  thing 
we  can  say  to  you  now,  but  will  make  good 


154  A    CALL    TO  (  Doct.  6. 

3^our  cause,  be  it  ever  so  bad.  I  know  al- 
ready that  never  a  reason  that  now  you  can 
give  me  will  do  you  any  good  at  last,  when 
3^our  case  must  be  opened  before  the  Lord, 
and  all  the  world. 

Na}^,  I  scarce  think  that  your  own  con- 
sciences are  well  satisfied  with  your  rea- 
sons ;  for  if  they  are,  it  seems,  then,  you 
have  not  so  much  as  a  purpose  to  repent. 
But  if  3'ou  do  purpose  to  repent,  it  seems 
you  dcf  not  put  much  confidence  in  the  rea- 
sons which  you  bring  against  it. 

What  say  you,  unconverted  sinners  ? 
Have  you  any  good  reasons  to  give  why 
you  should  not  turn,  and  presently  turn 
with  all  your  hearts?  Or  will  3'ou  go  to 
hell  in  despite  of  reason  itself?  Bethink 
you  what  3^ou  do  in  time,  for  it  will  shortly 
be  too  late  to  bethink  3^ou.  Can  ^^ou  find 
any  fault  with  God,  or  his  work,  or  wages? 
Is  he  a  bad  master?  Is  the  devil,  whom 
you  serve,  a  better?  or  is  the  flesh  a  better? 
Is  there  any  harm  in  a  holy  life  ?  Is  a  life 
of  worldliness  and  ungodliness  better?  Do 
you  think  in  your  consciences  that  it  would 
do  you  any  harm  to  be  converted  and  live  a 
holy  life  ?    What  harm  can  it  do  you  ?    Is  it 


Doct.6.)         THE  UNCONVERTED.  155 

harm  to  you  to  have  the  Spirit  of  Christ 
within  you,  and  to  have  a  cleansed,  purihed 
heart?  If  it  be  bad  to  be  holy,  why  doth 
God  sa}^,  "  Be  ye  holy,  for  I  am  holy  ?"  1 
Pet.  1  :  15,  16  ;  Lev.  20  : 7.  Is  it  evil  to  be 
like  God  ?  Is  it  not  said  that  God  made 
man  in  his  own  image?  Why,  this  holiness 
is  his  image;  this  Adam  lost,  and  this  Christ 
by  his  word  and  Spirit  would  restore  to  you, 
as  he  doth  to  all  that  he  will  save.  How  is 
it  that  men  are  baptized  into  the  Holy  Ghost 
as  their  Sanctifier,  and  yet  you  will  not  be 
sanctified  by  him,  but  think  it  a  hurt  to  j'ou 
to  be  sanctified?  Tell  me  truly,  as  before 
the  Lord,  though  you  are  loth  to  live  a  holy 
life,  had  you  not  rather  die  in  the  case  of 
those  that  do  so,  than  of  others  ?  If  you 
were  to  die  this  day,  had  you  not  rather 
die  in  the  case  of  a  converted  man  than  of 
an  unconverted  ?  of  a  holy  and  heavenly 
man  than  of  a  carnal  earthly  man  ?  and 
would  you  not  say  as  Balaam,  "  Let  me 
die  the  death  of  the  righteous,  and  let  my 
last  end  be  like  his  !"  Numb.  23  :  10.  And 
why  will  you  not  now  be  of  the  mind  that 
you  will  be  of  then  ?  First  or  last  you  must 
come  to  this,  either  to  be  converted,  or  to 


156  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  6. 

wish  you    had    been,   when   it  is   too   late. 

But  what  is  it  that  you  are  afraid  of  losing, 
jf  you  turn  ?  Is  it  your  friends  ?  You  will 
but  change  them ;  God  will  be  your  Friend, 
and  Christ  and  the  Spirit  will  be  your  Friend  ; 
and  every  christian  will  be  your  friend.  You 
will  get  one  Friend  that  will  stand  you  in 
more  stead  than  all  the  friends  in  the  world 
could  have  done.  The  friends  you  lose 
would  have  but  enticed  you  to  hell,  but 
could  not  have  delivered  you :  but  the 
Friend  you  get  will  save  you  from  hell, 
and  bring  you  to  his  own  eternal  rest. 

Is  it  your  pleasures  that  you  are  afraid  of 
losing?  You  think  you  shall  never  have  a 
merry  day  again  if  once  you  be  converted. 
Alas !  that  you  should  think  it  a  greater 
pleasure  to  live  in  foolish  sports  and  merri- 
ments, and  please  your  flesh,  than  to  live  in 
the  believing  thoughts  of  glory,  and  in  the 
love  of  God,  and  in  righteousness,  and  peace, 
and  joy  in  the  Holy  Ghost,  in  which  the 
state  of  grace  consisteth.  Rom.  14  :  17.  If 
it  would  be  a  greater  pleasure  for  you  to 
think  of  your  lands  and  inheritance,  if  you 
were  lord  of  all  the  country,  than  it  is  for  a 
child  to  play  at  pins,  why  should  it  not  be 


Docte.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  157 

a  greater  joy  to  you  to  think  of  the  kingdom 
of  heaven  being  yours,  than  all  the  riches 
or  pleasures  of  the  world  ?  As  it  is  but 
foolish  childishness  that  makes  children  so 
delight-  in  toys  that  they  would  not  leave 
them  frfr  all  your  lands,  so  it  is  but  foolish 
worldliness,  and  fleshliness,  and  wicked- 
ness, that  makes  you  so  much  delight  in 
your  houses  and  lands,  and  meat  and  drink, 
and  ease  and  honor,  as  that  you  would  not 
part  with  them  for  the  heavenly  delights. 
But  what  will  you  do  for  pleasure  when 
these  are  gone  ?  Do  you  not  think  of  that  V 
When  your  pleasures  end  in  horror,  and  go 
out  like  a  taper,  the  pleasures  of  the  saints 
are  then  the  highest.  I  have  had  myself 
but  a  little  taste  of  the  heavenly  pleasures 
in  the  forethoughts  of  the  blessed  approach- 
ing day,  and  in  the  present  persuasions 
of  the  love  of  God  in  Christ ;  but  I  have 
taken  too  deep  a  draught  of  earthly  })lea- 
sures  :  so  that  you  may  see,  if  I  be  partial, 
it  is  on  your  side ;  and  yet  I  must  profess, 
from  that  little  experience,  that  there  is  no 
comparison.  There  is  more  joy  to  be  had 
in  a  day,  if  the  sun  of  life  shine  clear  upon 
us,  in  the  state  of  holiness,  than  in  a  whole 

B.  Cull.  M 


158  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  6. 

life  of  sinful  pleasures.    "  I  had  rather  be  a 
door-keeper  in  the   house   of  God  than   to 
dwell  in  the   tents   of  wickedness."  Psahn 
84  :  10.  "A  day  in  his  courts  is  better  than 
a  thousand"   any  where  else.     The  mirth 
of  the  wicked  is  like  the  laughter  of  a  mad- 
man, that  knows  not  his  own  misery;  and 
therefore  Solomon  says  of  such  laughter,  "  it 
is  mad  ;  and  of  mirth,  what  doeth  it?"    *'  It 
is  better  to  go  to  the    house  of  mourning 
than  to  go  to  the  house  of  feasting;  for  that 
is  the  end  of  all  men,  and  the  living  will  lay 
it  to  his  heart.    Sorrow  is  better  than  laugh- 
ter ;  for  by  the  sadness  of  the  countenance 
the  heart  is  made  better.    The  heart  of  the 
wise  is  in  the  house  of  mourning ;  but  the 
heart  of  fools  is  in  the  house  of  mirth.    It  is 
better  to  bear  the  rebuke  of  the  wise,  than 
to  hear  the  song  of  fools ;  for  as  the  crack- 
ling of  thorns  under  a  pot,  so  is  the  laughter 
of  the  fool."   Eccles.  2  :  2  ;  7  :  2-6.    Your 
loudest  laughter  is  but  like  that  of  a  man 
that  is  tickled ;  he  laughs  when  he  has  no 
cause  of  joy.    Judge,  as  you  are  men,  whe- 
ther this  be  a  wise  man's  part.    It  is  but 
your  carnal  unsanctified  nature  that  makes 
a  holy  life  seem   grievous  to  you,  and   a 


Doct.  6.)  THE    UiVCONVKRTED.  159 

course  of  sensuality  seem  more  delightful. 
If  you  will  but  turn,  the  Holy  Ghost  will 
<live  vou  another  nature  and  inclination, 
and  then  it  will  be  more  pleasant  to  you  to 
be  rid  of  your  sin,  than  now  it  is  to  keep  it ; 
and  you  will  then  say,  that  you  knew  not 
what  a  comfortable  life  was  till  now,  and 
that  it  was  never  well  with  you  till  God  and 
holiness  were  your  delight. 

Quest ioji.  But  how  cometh  it  to  pass  that 
men  should  be  so  unreasonable  in  the  mat- 
ters of  salvation?  They  have  sense  enough 
in  other  matters  :  what  makes  them  so  loth 
to  be  converted  that  there  should  need  so 
many  words  in  so  plain  a  case,  and  all  will 
not  do,  but  the  most  will  live  and  die  un- 
converted ? 

Answer.  To  name  them  only  in  few  words, 
the  causes  are  these  : 

1.  Men  are  naturally  in  lo\e  with  the 
earth  and  flesh ;  they  are  born  sinners,  and 
their  nature  hath  an  enmity  to  God  and  god- 
liness, as  the  nature  of  a  serpent  hath  to  a 
man  :  and  when  all  that  we  can  say  goes 
against  an  habitual  inclination  of  their  na- 
tures, no  marvel  if  it  prevail  little. 

2.  They  are  in  darkness,  and  know  not 


160  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  6. 

the  very  things  they  hear.  Like  a  man  that 
was  born  bhnd,  and  hears  a  high  commen- 
dation of  the  hght;  but  what  will  hearing 
do,  unless  he  sees  it "?  They  know  not  what 
God  is,  nor  what  is  the  power  of  the  cross 
of  Christ,  nor  what  the  Spirit  of  holiness  is, 
nor  what  it  is  to  live  in  love  by  faith :  they 
know  not  the  certainty,  and  suitableness, 
and  excellency  of  the  heavenly  inheritance. 
They  know  not  what  conversion  and  a  holy 
mind  and  conversation  is,  even  when  they 
liear  of  it.  They  are  in  a  mist  of  ignorance. 
They  are  lost  and  bewildered  in  sin ;  like  a 
man  tliat  has  lost  himself  in  the  night,  and 
knows  not  where  he  is,  nor  how  to  come  to 
himself  again,  till  the  daylight  recover  him. 

o.  They  are  wilfully  confident  that  the}^ 
need  no  conversion,  but  only  some  partial 
amendment,  and  that  they  are  in  the  wa}*" 
to  heaven  already,  and  are  converted  when 
they  are  not.  And  if  3^ou  meet  a  man  that 
is  quite  out  of  his  way,  3'ou  may  long 
enough  call  on  him  to  turn  back  again,  if  he 
will  not  believe  that  he  is  out  of  the  way. 

4.  They  are  become  slaves  to  their  flesh, 
and  drowned  in  the  world,  to  make  provi- 
sion for  it.    Their  lusts,  and  passions,  and 


Doct.6.)  THE  UNCONVERTED.  161 

appetites  have  distracted  them,  and  got 
such  power  over  them  that  they  cannot  tell 
how  to  deny  them,  or  how  to  mind  any  thing 
else  ;  so  that  the  drunkard  saith,  I  love  a 
cup  of  good  drink,  and  I  cannot  forbear ; 
the  glutton  saith,  I  love  good  cheer,  and  I 
cannot  forbear;  the  fornicator  saith,  I  love 
to  have  my  lust  fulfilled,  and  I  cannot  for- 
bear; and  the  gamester  loves  to  have  his 
sports,  and  he  cannot  forbear.  So  that  they 
are  become  even  captivated  slaves  to  their 
flesh,  and  their  very  wilfulness  is  become 
an  impotency ;  and  what  they  would  not  do, 
they  say  they  cannot.  And  the  worldling  is 
so  taken  up  with  earthly  things,  that  he 
hath  neither  heart,  nor  mind,  nor  time  for 
heavenly;  but,  as  in  Pharaoh's  dream, 
Gen.  41  :  4,  the  lean  kine  did  eat  up  the  fat 
ones,  so  this  lean  and  barren  earth  doth  cat 
up  all  the  thoughts  of  heaven. 

5,  Some  are  so  carried  away  by  the 
stream  of  evi)>  company,  that  they  are  pos- 
sessed with  hard  thoughts  of  a  godly  life,  by 
hearing  them  speak  against  it ;  or  at  least 
they  think  they  may  venture  to  do  as  they 
see  most  do,  and  so  they  hold  on  in  their 
sinful  ways ;  and  when   one  is  cut  off  and 

14* 


1G2  A    CALL    TO  (D0CL6. 

cast  into  heil,  and  another  snatched  away 
from  among  them  to  the  same  condemna- 
tion, it  doth  not  much  daunt  them,  because 
they  see  not  whither  they  are  gone.  Poor 
wretches,  they  hold  on  in  their  ungodhness 
for  all  this ;  for  they  little  know  that  their 
companions  are  now  lamenting  it  in  tor- 
ments. In  Luke,  16,  the  rich  man  in  hell 
would  fain  have  had  one  to  warn  his  five 
brethren,  lest  they  should  come  to  that  place 
of  torment.  It  is  lik-ely  he  knew  their  minds 
and  lives,  and  knew  that  they  were  hasting 
thither,  and  little  dreamed  that  he  was  there, 
yea,  and  would  little  have  believed  one  that 
should  have  told  them  so. 

I  remember  an  occurrence  that  a  gentle- 
man, yet  living,  told  me  he  saw  upon  a 
bridge  over  the  Severn.*  A  man  was  dri- 
ving a  flock  of  fat  lambs,  and  something 
meeting  them  and  hindering  their  passage, 
one  of  the  lambs  leapt  upon  the  wall  of  the 
bridge,  and  his  legs  slipping  he  fell  into  the 
stream ;  and  the  rest  seeing  him,  did,  one  after 
another,  leap  over  the  bridge  into  the  stream, 
till  all  or  almost  all  were  drowned.    Those 

*  Mr.  R.  Rowly,  of  Shrewsbun',  upon  Acham-Bridge. 


Doct.  6.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  163 

that  were  behind  little  knew  what  was  become 
of  them  that  were  gone  before  :  but  thought 
they  might  venture  to  follow  their  companions ; 
but  as  soon  as  ever  they  were  over  the  wall, 
and  falling  headlong,  the  case  was  altered. 
Even  so  it  is  with  unconverted  carnal  men. 
One  dieth  by  them  and  drops  mto  hell,  and 
another  follows  the  same  way ;  and  yet  they 
will  go  after  them,  because  they  think  not 
whither  they  are  going.  O,  but  when  death 
hath  once  opened  their  eyes,  and  they  see 
what  is  on  the  other  side  of  the  wall,  even 
in  another  world,  then  what  would  they  give 
to  be  where  they  were ! 

6.  Moreover,  they  have  a  subtle  malicious 
enemy  that  is  unseen  of  them,  and  plays  his 
game  in  the  dark  ;  and  it  is  his  principal 
business  to  hinder  their  conversion ;  and 
therefore  to  keep  them  where  they  are,  by 
persuading  them  not  to  believe  the  Scrip- 
lures,  or  not  to  trouble  their  minds  with 
these  matters  ;  or  by  persuading  them  to 
think  ill  of  a  godly  life,  or  to  think  that  more 
is  enjoined  than  need  be,  and  that  they  may 
be  saved  without  conversion,  and  without 
all  this  stir ;  and  that  God  is  so  merciful 
that  he  will  not  damn  any  such  as  they ;  or 


164  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.6. 

at  least,  that  they  may  stay  a  little  longer, 
and  take  their  pleasure,  and  follow  the 
world  a  little  longer  yet,  and  then  let  it  go, 
and  repent  hereafter.  And  by  such  jug- 
gling, deluding  cheats  as  these,  the  devil 
keeps  the  most  in  his  captivit}^,  and  leadeth 
them  to  his  misery. 

These,  and  such  like  impediments  as 
these,  do  keep  so  many  thousands  uncon- 
verted, when  God  hath  done  so  much,  and 
Christ  hath  suffered  so  much,  and  ministers 
have  said  so  much  for  their  conversion. 
When  their  reasons  are  silenced  and  they 
are  not  able  to  answer  the  Lord  that  calls 
after  them,  "Turn  ye,  turn  ye,  why  will  ye 
die?"  yet  all  comes  to  nothing  with  the 
greatest  part  of  them  ;  and  they  leave  us  no 
more  to  do  after  all,  but  to  sit  down  and  la- 
ment their  wilful  misery-. 

I  have  now  showed  you  the  reasonable- 
ness of  God's  commands,  and  the  unreason- 
ableness of  wicked  men's  disobedience.  If 
nothing  will  serve  to  persuade  them,  but 
men  will  yet  refuse  to  turn,  we  are  next 
to  consider  who  is  in  fault  if  they  be 
damned.  And  this  brings  me  to  the  last 
doctrine ;  which  is. 


Doct.7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  1G5 

DOCTRINE  VII. 

That  if  after  all  this  men  rvili  not  turn,  it  is  not  the  fault 
of  God  that  they  are  condemned.,  hut  their  own,  even 
their  own  wilfulness.  They  die  because  they  will,  Oiat 
is,  because  they  will  not  turn. 

If  you  will  go  to  hell,  what  remedy?  God 
here  acquits  himself  of  your  blood  ;  it  shall 
not  lie  on  him  if  you  be  lost.  A  negligent 
minister  may  draw  it  upon  him ;  and  those 
that  encourage  you  or  hinder  you  not  in  sin, 
may  draw  it  upon  them  ;  but  be  sure  of  it,  it 
shall  not  lie  upon  God.  Saith  the  Lord,  con- 
cerning his  unprofitable  vineyard:  *' Judge, 
I  pray  you,  betwixt  me  and  my  vineyard : 
what  could  have  been  done  more  to  my 
vineyard  that  I  have  not  done  in  it  ?"  Isa. 
5  :  1-4.  When  he  had  planted  it  in  a  fruit- 
ful soil,  and  fenced  it,  and  gathered  out  the 
stones,  and  planted  it  with  the  choicest 
vines,  what  should  he  have  done  more  to  it? 
He  hath  made  j^ou  men,  and  endowed  you 
with  reason;  he  hath  furnished  you  with  all 
external  necessaries ;  all  creatures  are  at 
your  service  ;  he  hath  given  you  a  righteous 
perfect  law.  When  you  had  broken  it  and 
undone  yourselves,  he  had  pity  on  you,  and 


IGG  A    CALL    TO  <Doct.  7. 

sent  his  Son  by  a  miracle  of  condescending 
mercy  to  die  for  you,  and  be  a  sacrifice  for 
vour  sins  ;  and  he  was  in  Christ  reconciling: 

^  '  CD 

the  world  to  himself!  ' 

The  Lord  Jesus  hath  made  you  a  deed  of 
gift  of  himself,  and  eternal  life  with  him,  on 
the  condition  you  will  but  accept  it,  and  re- 
turn. He  hath  on  this  reasonable  condition 
offered  ^^ou  the  free  pardon  of  all  your  sins ! 
he  hath  written  this  in  his  word,  and  sealed 
it  by  his  Spirit,  and  sent  it  by  his  ministers  : 
they  have  made  the  offer  to  you  a  hundred  and 
a  hundred  times,  and  called  you  to  accept  it, 
and  to  turn  to  God.  The}^  have  in  his  name  en- 
treated you,  and  reasoned  the  case  with  you, 
and  answered  all  3'our  frivolous  objections. 
He  hath  long  waited  on  you,  and  staid  your 
leisure,  and  suffered  you  to  abuse  him  to  his 
face!  He  hath  mercifully  sustained  you  in 
the  midst  of  your  sins  ;  he  hath  compassed 
you  about  with  all  sorts  of  mercies  ;  he  hath 
also  intermixed  afflictions,  to  remind  you  of 
your  folly  and  call  you  to  your  senses,  and 
his  Spirit  has  been  often  striving  with  your 
hearts,  saying,  "  Turn,  sinner,  turn  to  him 
that  calleth  thee.  Whither  art  thou  going? 
What  art  thou  doinsf  1  Dost  thou  know  what 


Doct.  7.)  TUE    UNCONVERTED.  1G7 

will  be  the  end  ?  How  long  wilt  thou  hnte 
thy  friends  and  love  thine  enemies  ?  When 
wih  thou  let  go  all,  and  turn  and  deliver  up 
thyself  to  God,  and  give  thy  Redeemer  the 
possession  of  thy  soul  ?  When  shall  it  once 
be  V"  These  pleadings  have  been  used  with 
thee,  and  when  thou  hast  delayed,  thou  hast 
been  urged  to  make  haste,  and  God  haih 
called  to  thee,  "  To-day,  while  it  is  called 
to-day,  harden  not  thy  heart."  Why  not  lis- 
ten now  without  any  more  delay  ? 

Life  hath  been  set  before  you  ;  the  joys 
of  heaven  have  been  opened  to  you  in  the 
Gospel ;  the  certainty  of  them  hath  been 
manifested  ;  the  certainty  of  the  everlasting 
torments  of  the  damned  hath  been  declared 
to  you — unless  you  would  have  had  a  sight 
of  heaven  and  hell,  what  could  you  desire 
more  ?  Christ  hath  been,  as  it  were,  set 
forth  crucified  before  your  eyes.  Gal.  3:1. 
You  have  been  a  hundred  times  told  that 
you  are  but  lost  men  till  j^ou  come  unto 
him  :  as  often  you  have  been  told  of  the  evil 
of  sin,  of  the  vanity  of  sin,  the  world,  and 
all  the  pleasures  and  wealth  it  can  nil'ord  ; 
of  the  shortness  and  uncertainty  of  your 
lives,  and  the  endless  duration  of  the  joy  or 


168  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.7. 

torment  of  the  life  to  come.  All  this,  and 
more  than  this  have  you  been  told,  and  told 
again,  even  till  you  were  weary  of  hearing 
it,  and  till  you  could  make  the  lighter  of  it, 
because  you  had  so  often  heard  it,  like  the 
smith's  dog,  that  is  brought  by  custom  to 
sleep  under  the  noise  of  the  hammers  and 
when  the  sparks  fly  about  his  ears  ;  and 
though  all  this  have  not  converted  you,  yet 
you  are  alive,  and  might  have  mercy  to  this 
day,  if  you  had  but  hearts  to  entertain  it. 
And  now  let  reason  itself  be  the  judge, 
whether  it  be  the  fault  of  God,  or  of  your- 
selves, if  after  all  this  you  will  be  uncon- 
verted and  be  damned.  If  you  die  now,  it  is 
because  you  will  die. 

What  should  be  said  more  to  you,  or  what 
course  should  be  taken  that  is  more  likely 
to  prevail  ?  Are  you  able  to  say,  and  make 
it  good,  "  We  would  fain  have  been  con- 
verted and  become  new  creatures,  but  we 
could  not ;  we  would  fain  have  forsaken  our 
sins,  but  we  could  not ;  we  would  have 
changed  our  company,  and  our  thoughts, 
and  our  discourse,  but  we  could  not."  Whr 
could  you  not  if  you  would  ?  What  hinder- 
ed you  but  the  wickedness  of  your  hearts? 


Doct.  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  1G9 

Who  forced  you  to  sin,  or  who  held  you  back 
from  duty?  Had  not  you  the  same  teach- 
ing, and  time,  and  liberty  to  be  godly,  as 
your  godly  neighbors  had  ?  Why  then  could 
not  you  have  been  godly  as  well  as  they? 
Were  the  church-doors  shut  against  you,  or 
did  you  not  keep  away  yourselves,  or  sit 
and  sleep,  or  hear  as  if  you  did  not  hear  ? 
Did  God  put  in  any  exceptions  against  you 
in  his  word,  when  he  invited  sinners  to  re- 
turn ;  and  when  he  promised  mercy  to  those 
that  do  return  ?  Did  he  say,  "  I  will  pardon 
all  that  repent  except  thee  V"  Did  he  shut 
thee  out  from  the  liberty  of  his  holy  wor- 
ship? Did  he  forbid  you  to  pray  to  him 
any  more  than  others  ?  You  know  he  did 
not.  God  did  not  drive  you  away  from  him, 
but  you  forsook  him,  and  ran  away  your- 
selves, and  when  he  called  you  to  him,  you 
would  not  come. 

If  God  had  excepted  you  out  of  the  gene- 
ral promise  and  offer  of  mercy,  or  had  said 
to  you,  '*  Stand  off,  I  will  have  nothing  to  do 
with  such  as  you  ;  pray  not  to  me,  for  I  will 
not  hear  you ;  if  you  repent  never  so  much, 
and  cry  for  mercy  never  so  much,  I  will  not 
regard  you," — if  God  had  left  you  nothing 

B.  CaU.  15 


170  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  7. 

to  trust  to  but  desperation,  then  you  had  a 
fair  excuse  ;  you  might  have  said,  "  To  what 
end  should  I  repent  and  turn,  when  it  will 
do  no  good?"  But  this  was  not  your  case  : 
you  might  have  had  Christ  to  be  your  Lord 
and  Savior,  3^our  head  and  husband,  as  well 
as  others,  and  vou  would  not,  because  you 
felt  yourselves  not  sick  enough  for  the  phy- 
sician :  and  becauss  you  could  not  spare 
your  disease.  In  3^our  hearts  you  said  as 
those  rebels,  Luke,  19  :  14,  *'  We  wdll  not 
have  this  man  to  reign  over  us."  Christ 
would  have  gathered  you  under  the  wings 
of  his  salvation,  and  you  w^ould  not.  Matt. 
23  :  37.  What  desires  of  your  welfare  did 
the  Lord  express  in  his  holy  word  ?  With 
what  compassion  did  he  stand  over  you  and 
s-ay,  "  O  that  my  people  had  hearkened  un- 
to me,  and  that  they  had  walked  in  my 
w^ays!"  Psalm  81  :  13.  *'  O  that  there  were 
such  a  heart  in  this  people,  that  they  would 
fear  me,  and  keep  all  my  commandments 
always,  that  it  might  be  well  with  them  and 
with  their  children  for  ever!"  Deut.  5  :  29. 
*'  O  that  they  were  wise,  that  they  understood 
this,  that  they  would  consider  their  latter 
end  !"  Dcut.  32  :  29.    He  would  have  been 


Doct.  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  171 

your  God,  and  done  all  for  you  that  your 
souls  could  well  desire  ;  but  you  loved  the 
world  and  your  flesh  above  him,  and  there- 
fore you  would  not  hearken  to  him  :  though 
you  complimented  him,  and  gave  him  high 
titles  ;  yet  when  it  came  to  the  closing,  you 
would  have  none  of  him.  Psalm  81  :  11,  12. 
No  marvel  then  if  he  gave  you  up  to  your 
own  hearts'  lusts,  and  you  walked  in  your 
own  counsels. 

He  condescends  to  reason,  and  pleads 
the  case  with  you,  and  asks  you,  "  What  is 
there  in  me,  or  my  service,  that  you  should 
be  so  much  against  me?  What  harm  have 
I  done  thee,  sinner?  Have  I  deserved  this 
unkind  dealing  at  thy  hand  ?  Many  mercies 
have  I  showed  thee :  for  which  of  them  dost 
thou  thus  despise  me?  Is  it  I,  or  is  it  Satan 
that  is  thy  enemy  ?  Is  it  I,  or  is  it  thy  carnal 
s-elf  that  would  undo  thee?  Is  "it  a  holy  life, 
or  a  life  of  sin,  that  thou  hast  cause  to  fly 
from?  If  thou  be  undone,  thou  procurcst 
this  to  thyself,  by  forsaking  me,  the  Lord 
that  would  have  saved  thee."  Jcr.  2:17. 
*'  Doth  not  thy  own  wickedness  correct  thee, 
and  thy  sin  reprove  thee?  Thou  mayest  see 
that  it  is  an  evil  and  bitter  thing  that  thou 


172  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  7 

ha?t  forsaken  me."  Jer.  2:19.  "  What  ini- 
quity have  you  found  in  me  that  you  have 
followed  after  vanity,  and  forsaken  me  ?" 
Jer.  2  :  5,  0.  He  calleth  out,  as  it  were,  to 
the  brutes,  to  hear  the  controversy  he  hath 
against  you.  "  Hear,  O  ye  mountains,  the 
Lord's  controversy,  and  ye  strong  founda- 
tions of  the  earth  ;  for  the  Lord  hath  a  con- 
troversy with  his  people,  and  he  will  plead 
with  Israel.  O  my  people,  what  have  I  done 
unto  thee,  and  wherein  have  I  wearied  thee  ? 
testify  against  me,  for  I  brought  thee  up  out  of 
Egypt,  and  redeemed  thee."  Micah,  6  :  2,  3. 
*'  Hear,  O  heavens,  and  give  ear,  O  earth, 
for  the  Lord  hath  spoken.  I  have  nourished 
and  brought  up  children,  and  they  have  re- 
belled against  me.  The  ox  knoweth  his 
owner,  and  the  ass  his  master's  crib  ;  but 
Israel  doth  not  know,  my  people  doth  not 
consider  !  Ah,  sinful  nation,  a  people  laden 
with  iniquity,  a  seed  of  evil-doers!"  &c. 
Isaiah,  1  :  2,  4.  *' Do  you  thus  requite  the 
Lord,  O  foolish  people  and  unwise?  Is 
not  he  thy  Father  that  bought  thee  ?  Hath 
he  not  made  thee,  and  established  thee?" 
Deut.  32  :  6.  When  he  saw  that  you  for- 
sook him,  even  for  nothing,  and  turned  away 


Doct.  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  173 

from  iho  Lord  of  life  to  hunt  after  the  chaff 
and  feathers  of  the  world,  he  told  you  of 
your  folly,  and  called  you  to  a  more  profit- 
able emploj^ment,  Isaiah,  ^^  :  2-7.  "  Where- 
fore do  you  spend  your  money  for  that  which 
is  not  bread,  and  your  labor  for  that  which 
satisfieth  not  ?  Hearken  diligently  unto  me, 
and  eat  ye  that  which  is  good,  and  let  your 
soul  delight  itself  in  fatness.  Inchne  your 
ear,  and  come  unto  me  ;  hear,  and  your  soul 
shall  live ;  and  I  will  make  an  everlasting 
covenant  with  you,  even  the  sure  mercies  of 
David.  Seek  ye  the  Lord  while  he  may  be 
found  :  call  ye  upon  him  while  he  is  near. 
Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  the 
unrighteous  man  his  thoughts,  and  let  him 
return  unto  the  Lord,  and  he  will  have 
mercy  upon  him ;  and  to  our  God,  for  he 
will  abundantly  pardon."  Isa.  ^5  :  2-7 ;  and 
so  chap.  1  :  lG-18. 

And  when  you  would  not  hear,  what  com- 
plaints have  you  caused  him  to  bring  against 
you  ?  charging  it  on  you  as  your  wilfulness 
and  stubbornness.  "  Be  astonished,  O  hea- 
vens,#at  this,  and  be  horribly  afraid  ;  for  my 
people  have  committed  two  evils  ;  they  have 
forsaken  me,  the  fountain  of  living  waters, 

15* 


174  A    CALL    TO  iDoct.  7. 

and  hewed  them  out  cisterns,  broken  cis- 
terns, that  can  hold  no  water."  Jer.  2  :  12, 
13.  Many  a  time  hath  Christ  proclaimed 
that  free  invitation  to  you,  *'  Let  him  that  is 
athirst  come,  and  whosoever  will,  let  him 
take  the  water  of  Hfe  freely."  Rev.  22  :  17 
But  you  put  him  to  complain,  after  all  his 
offers,  *'  They  will  not  come  to  me,  that  they 
may  have  life."  John,  5  :  40.  He  hath  invi- 
ted you  to  feast  with  him  in  the  kingdom  of 
his  grace,  and  you  have  had  excuses  from 
3^our  grounds,  and  •  your  cattle,  and  your 
worldly  business  ;  and  when  you  w^ould  not 
come,  you  have  said  you  could  not,  and  pro- 
voked him  to  resolve  that  you  should  never 
taste  of  his  supper.  Luke,  14  :  16-25.  And 
who  is  it  the  fault  of  now  but  yourselves  ? 
and  what  can  you  say  is  the  chief  cause  of 
your  damnation  but  your  own  wills?  yon 
would  be  damned.  The  whole  case  is  laid 
open  by  Christ  himself.  *'  Wisdom  crieth 
without,  she  uttereth  her  voice  in  the  streets  ; 
she  crieth  in  the  chief  place  of  concourse — 
How  long,  ye  simple  ones,  wnll  ye  love  sim- 
plicity, and  the  scorners  delight  i{i  their 
scorning,  and  fools  hate  knowledge  ?  Turn 
ye  at  my  reproof.    Behold,  I  will  pour  out 


Doct7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  175 

my  Spirit  upon  you,  I  will  make  known  my 
words  unto  you.  Because  I  have  called, 
and  ye  refused  ;  I  have  stretched  out  my 
hands,  and  no  man  regarded ;  but  ye  have 
set  at  naught  all  my  counsel,  and  would 
none  of  my  reproof.  I  also  will  laugh  at 
your  calamity,  I  will  mock  when  your  fear 
Cometh ;  when  your  fear  cometh  as  desola- 
tion, and  your  destruction  cometh  as  a  whirl- 
wind ;  when  distress  and  anguish  cometh 
upon  you,  then  shall  the}^  call  upon  me,  but 
I  will  not  answer  ;  they  shall  seek  me  early, 
but  they  shall  not  find  me,  for  that  they 
hated  knowledge,  and  did  not  choose  the 
fear  of  the  Lord.  They  would  none  of  my 
counsel;  they  despised  all  my  reproof; 
therefore  shall  they  eat  of  the  fruit  of  their 
own  way,  and  be  filled  with  their  own  de- 
vices. For  the  turning  away  of  the  simple 
shall  slay  them,  and  the  prosperity  of  fools 
shall  destroy  them.  But  whoso  hearkencth 
to  me  shall  dwell  safely,  and  shall  be  quiet 
from  the  fear  of  evil."  Prov.  1  :  20-33.  I 
thought  best  to  recite  the  whole  text  at 
large  to  you,  because  it  doth  so  fully  show 
the  cause  of  the  destruction  of  the  wicked. 
It  is  not  because  God  would  not  teach  them. 


17G  A     CALL    TO  (Doct.  7 

but  because  they  would  not  learn.  It  is  not 
because  God  would  not  call  them,  but  be- 
cause they  would  not  turn  at  his  reproof. 
Their  wilfulness  is  their  undoing. 

From  what  hath  been  said,  you  may  fur- 
ther learn  these  following  things  : 

1.  From  hence  you  may  see  not  only 
what  blasphemy  and  impiety  it  is  to  lay  the 
blame  of  men's  destruction  upon  God,  but 
also  how  unfit  these  wicked  wretches  are  to 
bring  in  such  a  charge  against  their  Maker ! 
They  cry  out  upon  God,  and  say  that  he 
gives  them  no  grace,  and  that  his  threaten- 
ings  are  severe,  and  that  it  is  unreasonable 
that  all  should  be  condemned  who  are  not 
converted  and  sanctified ;  and  they  think  it 
hard  measure  that  a  short  sin  should  have 
an  endless  suffering ;  and  if  they  be  damned 
they  say  they  cannot  help  it,  when  in  the 
meantime  they  are  bringing  about  their  own 
destruction,  even  the  destruction  of  their 
own  souls,  and  will  not  be  persuaded  to 
hold  their  hands.  They  think  God  were 
cruel  if  he  should  condemn  them,  and  yet 
they  are  so  cruel  to  themselves  that  they 
will  run  into  the  fire  of  hell,  when  God  hath 


Doct.  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  177 

told  them  it  is  but  a  little  before  them  ;  and 
ueither  entreaties  nor  threatenings,  nor  any 
thing  that  can  be  said,  will  stop  them. 

We  see  them  almost  undone  ;  their  care- 
less, worldly,  fleshly  lives  tell  us  that  they 
are  in  the  power  of  the  devil ;  we  know, 
if  they  die  before  they  are  converted  all 
the  world  cannot  save  them  ;  and  knowing 
the  uncertainty  of  their  lives,  we  are  afraid 
every  day  lest  they  drop  into  the  fire ;  and 
therefore  we  entreat  them  to  pity  their  own 
souls,  and  not  to  undo  themselves  when 
mercy  is  at  hand,  but  they  will  not  hear  us. 
We  entreat  thefn  to  cast  away  their  sin,  and 
come  to  Christ  without  delay,  and  to  have 
some  mercy  on  themselves,  but  they  will 
have  none ;  and  yet  they  think  that  God 
must  be  cruel  if  he  condemn  them. 

O  wilful  miserable  sinners !  it  is  not  God 
that  is  cruel  to  you,  it  is  you  that  are  cruel 
to  yourselves  ;  you  are  told  you  must  turn 
or  burn,  and  yet  you  turn  not.  You  are  told 
that  if  you  will  needs  keep  your  sins,  you 
shall  keep  the  curse  of  God  with  them,  and 
yet  you  will  keep  them.  You  are  told  that 
there  is  no  way  to  happiness  but  by  holiness, 
and  3'et  you  will  not  be  holy.     What  would 


178  A    CALL    TO  (Doct,7. 

YOU  have  God  say  more  to  you  ?  What 
would  you  have  him  do  with  his  mercy  ?  He 
offereth  it  to  you,  and  you  will  not  have  it. 
You  are  in  the  ditch  of  sin  and  misery,  and 
he  w^ould  give  you  his  hand  to  help  you  out, 
and  3^ou  refuse  his  help ;  he  would  cleanse 
you  of  your  sins,  and  you  had  rather  keep 
them  ;  3"ou  love  your  lust,  and  love  your 
gluttony,  and  sports,  and  drunkenness,  and 
will  not  let  them  go.  Would  you  have  him 
bring  you  to  heaven  whether  you  will  or 
not  ?  Or  would  you  have  him  bring  you 
and  vour  sins  to  heaven  tosrether?  That  is 
an  impossibility ;  3"ou  may  as  well  expect 
lie  should  turn  the  sun  into  darkness.  What ! 
an  unsanctified  fleshly  heart  be  in  heaven! 
it  cannot  be.  There  entereth  into  it  nothing 
that  is  unclean.  Rev.  21  :  27.  "  For  what 
communion  hath  lis^ht  with  darkness,  or 
Christ  with  Behal  ?"  "All  the  day  long 
hath  he  stretched  out  his  hands  to  a  diso- 
bedient and  gainsaying  people."  2  Cor.  6 : 
14,  15;  Rom.  10:21. 

What  will  YOU  do  now  ?  Will  you  cry  to 
God  for  mercy  ?  Why,  God  calleth  upon  you 
to  have  mercy  upon  yourselves,  and  you 
will  not !     Ministers  see  the  poisoned  cup  m 


Do^t.  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  179 

the  drunkard's  hand,  and  tell  him  there  is 
j)oison  in  it,  and  desire  him  to  have  mercy 
on  his  soul,  and  forbear,  and  he  will  not  hear 
us  !  Drink  it  he  must  and  will ;  he  loves  it, 
and  therefore,  though  hell  comes  next,  he 
saith  he  cannot  help  it.  What  should  one 
say  to  such  men  as  these  ?  We  tell  the  un- 
godly careless  worldling,  it  is  not  such  a 
life  that  will  serve  the  turn,  or  ever  bring 
you  to  heaven.  If  a  lion  were  at  your  back 
you  would  mend  your  pace  ;  and  when  the 
curse  of  God  is  at  your  back,  and  Satan 
and  hell  are  at  your  back,  will  you  not  stir, 
but  ask.  What  need  of  all  this  ado  ?  Is  an 
immortal  soul  of  no  more  worth?  O  have 
mercy  upon  yourselves  !  But  they  will  have 
no  mercy  on  themselves,  nor  once  regard 
us.  We  tell  them  the  end  will  be  bitter. 
Who  can  dwell  with  everlasting  fire  ?  And 
yet  they  w^ill  have  no  mercy  on  themselves. 
Still  will  these  shameless  transgressors  say 
that  God  IS  more  merciful  than  to  condemn 
them,  when  it  is  themselves  that  cruelly  and 
unmercifully  run  upon  condemnation ;  and 
if  we  should  go  to  them  and  entreat  them,  we 
cannot  stop  them  ;  if  we  should  fall  on  our 
knees  to  them  we  cannot  stop  them,  but  to 


ISO  A    CALL    TO  (DocU7. 

hell  they  will  go,  and  yet  will  not  believe 
that  they  are  going  thither. 

If  we  beg  of  them,  for  the  sake  of  God 
that  made  them,  and  preserveth  them ;  for 
the  sake  of  Christ  that  died  for  them ;  for 
the  sake  of  their  own  souls,  to  pity  them- 
selves, and  go  no  further  in  the  way  to  hell, 
but  come  to  Christ  while  his  arms  are  open, 
and  enter  into  the  state  of  life  while  the  door 
stands  open,  and  now  take  mercy  while 
mercy  may  be  had,  they  will  not  be  per- 
suaded. If  we  should  die  for  it,  we  cannot 
so  much  as  get  them  now  and  then  to  con- 
sider with  themselves  of  the  matter,  and 
turn  ;  and  yet  they  can  say,  "I  hope  God 
will  be  merciful."  Did  you  never  consider 
what  he  saith,  Isa.  27  :  11,  "  It  is  a  people 
of  no  understanding;  therefore  he  that  made 
them  will  not  have  mercy  on  them,  and  he 
that  formed  them  will  show  them  no  favor." 
If  another  man  will  not  clothe  you  when 
you  are  naked,  and  feed  you  when  you  are 
hungry,  you  will  say  he  is  unmerciful.  If 
he  should  cast  you  into  prison,  or  beat  and 
torment  you,  you  would  say  he  is  unmerci- 
ful :  and  yet  you  will  do  a  thousand  times 
more  against  yourselves,  even  cast  away 


Doct.  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  ISl 

both  soul  and  body  for  ever,  and  never  com- 
plain of  your  own  unmercifulness  !  Yea,  and 
God  that  waited  upon  you  all  the  while 
with  his  mercy,  must  be  taken  to  be  unmer- 
ciful, if  he  punish  you  after  all  this.  Unless 
the  holy  God  of  heaven  will  give  these  un- 
godly men  leave  to  trample  upon  Jbis  Son's 
blood,  and  with  the  Jews,  as  it  were,  again 
to  spit  in  his  face,  and  do  despite  to  the  Spi- 
rit of  grace,  and  make  a  jest  of  sin,  and  a 
mock  at  holiness,  and  set  more  light  by 
saving  mercy  than  by  their  fleshly  pleasures  ; 
and  unless,  after  all  this,  he  will  save  them 
by  the  mercy  which  they  cast  awav,  and 
would  have  none  of,  God  himself  must  be 
railed  unmerciful  by  them  !  But  he  will  be 
justified  when  he  judgeth,  and  he  will  not 
stand  or  fall  at  the  bar  of  a  sinful  worm. 

I  know  there  are  many  particular  cavils 
that  are  brought  by  them  against  the  Lord  ; 
but  I  shall  not  here  stay  to  answer  them 
particularly,  having  done  it  already  in  mv 
Treatise  of  Judgment,  to  which  I  shall  lefer 
them.  Had  the  disputing  part  of  the  world 
been  as  careful  to  avoid  sin  and  destruction 
as  they  have  been  busy  in  searching  after 
the  cause  of  them,  and  forward  indirectly  to 

B.  CaU.  16 


182  A   CALL    TO  (Doct.  7. 

impute  them  to  God,  they  might  have  ex- 
ercised their  wits  more  profitably,  and  have 
less  wronged   God,  and  sped  better  them- 
selves.   When  so  ugly  a  monster  as  sin  is 
within  us,  and  so  heavy  a  thing  as  punish- 
ment is  on  us,  and  so  dreadful  a  thing   as 
hell  is  before  us,  one  would  think  it  would 
be    an  easy  quesiton   who  is  in  the   fault; 
whether  God  or  man  be   the  principal  or 
culpable  cause.    Some  men  are  such  favor- 
able judges  of  themselves,    that   they  are 
more    prone   to   accuse    infinite    perfection 
and  goodness  itself,  than  their  own  hearts, 
and    imitate   their  first  parents,   who  said, 
*'  The  serpent  tempted  me;  and  the  woman 
that  thou  gavest  me  gave  unto  me,  and  I 
did  eat ;"   secretly  imptying  that  God  was 
the  cause.    So  sav  thev,  "  The  understand- 
ing  that  thou  gavest  me  was  unable  to  dis- 
cern ;  the  will  that  thou  gavest  me  was  un- 
able to  make  a  better  choice ;  the  objects 
which  thou  didst  set  before  me  did  entice 
me ;  the  temptations  which  thou  didst  per- 
mit to  assault  me  prevailed   against  me," 
And  some  are  so  loth  to  think  that  God  can 
make  a  self-determining  creature,  that  they 
dare  not  deny  him  that  which  they  take  to 


Doct.  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  183 

be  his  prerogative,  lo  be  the  determiner 
of  the  will  in  every  sin,  as  the  first  effi- 
cient immediate  physical  cause ;  and  many 
could  be  content  to  acquit  God  from  so 
much  causing  of  evil,  if  they  could  but  re- 
concile it  with  his  being  the  chief  cause  of 
good;  as  if  truths  would  be  no  longer  truths 
than  we  are  able  to  see  them  in  their  per- 
fect order  and  coherence  ;  because  our  ra- 
velled wits  cannot  set  them  right  together, 
nor  assign  each  truth  its  proper  place,  wo 
presume  to  conclude  that  some  must  be  cast 
away.  This  is  the  fruit  of  proud  self-con- 
ceitedness,  when  men  receive  not  God's 
truth  as  children,  in  holy  submission  to  the 
omniscience  of  our  Teacher,  but  as  censur- 
ers  that  are  too  wise  to  learn. 

Objection.  But  w^e  cannot  convert  ourseh^es 
till  God  convert  us  ;  we  can  do  nothing  with- 
out his  grace ;  it  is  not  of  him  that  willeth, 
nor  of  him  that  runneth,  but  of  God  that 
showeth  mercy. 

Answer  1.  God  hath  two  detrrees  of  mercv 
to  show  ;  the  mercy  of  conversion  first,  and 
the  mercy  of  salvation  last ;  the  latter  he 
will  give  to  none  but  those  that  will  and  noi, 
and  hath  promised  it  to  them   only.    The 


1S4'  A    CALL    TO  (  Doct.  7 

former  is  to  make  them  willing  that  are  un- 
willing ;  and  though  vour  own  willingness 
and  endeavors  deserve  not  his  grace,  yet 
your  wilful  refusal  deserveth  that  it  should 
be  denied  to  you.  Your  disability  is  your 
very  unwillingness  itself,  which  excuseth 
not  vour  sin,  but  maketh  it  the  greater.  You 
could  turn  if  you  were  but  truly  willing ; 
and  if  your  wills  themselves  are  so  corrupt- 
ed that  nothing  but  effectual  grace  will  move 
them,  you  have  the  more  cause  to  seek  for 
that  grace,  and  yield  to  it,  and  do  what  you 
can  in  the  use  of  means,  and  not  neglect  it 
and  set  yourselves  against  it.  Do  what  you 
are  able  first,  and  then  complain  of  God  for 
denying  you  grace,  if  you  have  cause. 

Objection.  But  you  seem  to  intimate  all  thi? 
while  that  man  hath  free  will. 

Answer  1.  The  dispute  about  free  will  is 
beyond  your  capacity ;  I  shall  therefore 
now  trouble  you  with  no  more  but  this  about 
it.  Your  will  is  naturallv  a  free,  that  is,  a 
self-determining  faculty  ;  but  it  is  viciously 
inclined,  and  backward  to  do  good ;  and 
therefore  we  see,  by  sad  experience,  that 
it  hath  not  a  virtuous  moral  freedom  ;  but 
this   is   tlie    wickedness  of  it  which  deserv- 


Doct.7.)  THE  UNCONVERTED.  1S5 

clh  the  punishment;  and  I  pray  you  let  us 
not  befool  ourselves  with  opinions.  Let  the 
case  be  your  own.  If  you  had  an  enemy 
who  was  so  malicious  as  to  fall  upon  you, 
and  beat  you,  or  take  away  the  lives  of  your 
children^  would  you  excuse  him  because  he 
said  I  have  not  free  will :  it  is  my  nature,  I 
cannot  choose  unless  God  give  me  grace  "?  If 
you  had  a  servant  that  robbed  you,  would 
you  take  such  an  answer  from  him  ?  Might 
not  every  thief  and  murderer  that  is  hanged 
at  the  assize  give  such  an  answer :  I  have 
not  free  w'ill ;  I  cannot  change  my  own 
heart;  what  can  I  do  without  God's  grace? 
and  shall  they  therefore  be  acquitted?  If 
not,  why  then  should  you  think  to  be  acquit- 
ted for  a  course  of  sin  against  the  Lord  ? 

2.  From  hence  also  you  may  observe  these 
three  things  together: — 1.  What  a  subtle 
tempter  Satan  is.  2.  What  a  deceitful  thing 
sin  is.  3.  What  a  foolish  corrupted  creature 
man  is.  A  subtle  tempter,  indeed,  that  can 
persuade  the  greatest  part  of  the  world  to 
go  into  everlasting  fire,  when  they  have  so 
many  warnings  and  dissuasives  as  the}^ 
have!  A  deceitful  thing  is  sin,  indeed,  that 
can    bewitch    so   many   thousands   to   part 


1S6  A    CALL    TO  (DcKf.  7 

with  everlasting  life  for  a  thing  so  base  and 
utterly  unworthy !  A  foolish  creature  is 
man,  indeed,  that  will  be  cheated  of  his 
salvation  for  nothing,  yea,  for  a  known  no- 
thing ;  and  that  by  an  enemy,  and  a  known 
enemv.  You  would  think  it  impossible  that 
any  man  in  his  senses  should  be  persuaded 
for  a  trifle  to  cast  himself  into  the  fire,  or 
water,  or  into  a  coal-pit,  to  the  destruction 
of  his  life  ;  and  yet  men  will  be  enticed  to 
cast  themselves  into  hell.  If  your  natural 
lives  were  in  3'our  own  hand,  that  you 
should  not  die  till  you  would  kill  your- 
selves, how  long  would  most  of  you  live? 
And  yet,  when  everlasting  life  is  so  far  in 
your  own  hands,  under  God,  that  you  cannot 
be  undone  till  you  undo  ^"ourselves,  how  few 
of  you  will  forbear  your  own  undoing?  Ah, 
what  a  silly  thing  is  man !  and  what  a  be- 
witching and  befooling  thing  is  sin  ! 

3.  From  hence,  also,  you  may  learn,  that 
it  is  no  great  wonder  if  wicked  men  be  hin- 
derers  of  others  in  the  way  to  heaven,  and 
would  have  as  many  unconverted  as  thev 
can,  and  would  draw^  them  into  sin,  and  keep 
them  in  it.  Can  you  expect  that  they  should 
have  mere}'  on  others,  that  have  none  upon 


Tlocr.  7.)  THL    UXCONVERTCn.  1S7 

themselves?  n.nd  that  they  should  liesitato 
much  at  the  destruction  of  others,  that  liesi- 
tato not  to  destroy  themselves  ?  They  do 
no  worse  bv  otlicrs  than  thev  do  hy  tlieni- 
selves. 

4.  Lastly,  You  may  hence  learn  that  the 
greatest  enemy  to  man  is  himself;  and  th<.' 
greatest  judgment  in  this  life  that  can  befall 
him,  is  to  be   left  to  himself;  and  that  the 
great  work  that  grace  hath  to  do,  is  to  sav(; 
us  from  ourselves ;  and  that  the  greatest  ac- 
cusatit)ns  and  complaints  of  men  should  be 
against  themselves  ;   and  that  the  greatest 
work  we   have  to  do  ourselves,   is   to  resist 
ourselves;  and  the  greatest  enemy  that  we 
should    daily  pray,  and   watch,  and    strive? 
against,  is  our  own  carnal  hearts  and  wills  ; 
and  the  greatest  part  of  your  work,  if  yon 
would  do  good  to  others,  and   help  them  to 
heaven,  is   to  save  them  from   Uiemselves, 
(!ven  from  their  own  blind  understandings, 
and  corrupted  wills,  and  perverse  affections, 
and  violent  passions,  and  unruly  senses.    1 
only  name  all  these  for  brevity's  sake,  and 
leave  them  to  your  further  consideration. 

Well,  sirs,  now  we  have  fcnmd  out  the  G;reai 


ISS  A    CALL    TO  (Poet.  7 

delinquent  and  murderer  of  souls,  (even 
men's  selves,  their  own  wills,)  what  remains 
but  that  you  judge  according  to  the  evidence, 
and  confess  this  great  iniquity  before  the 
Lord,  and  be  humbled  for  it,  and  do  so  no 
more  ?  To  these  three  ends  distinctly  I  shall 
add  a  few  words  more.  1.  Further  to  con- 
vince vou.  2.  To  humble  vou.  And,  3.  To 
reform  you,  if  there  3^et  be  any  hope. 

1.  We  know  so  much  of  the  exceeding 
gracious  nature  of  God,  who  is  willing  to  do 
good,  and  delighteth  to  show  mercy,  that 
we  have  no  reason  to  suspect  him  of  being 
the  culpable  cause  of  our  death,  or  to  call 
him  cruel:  he  made  all  good,  and  he  pre- 
serveth  and  maintaineth  all ;  the  eyes  of  all 
wait  upon  him,  and  he  giveth  them  their 
meat  in  due  season  ;  he  openeth  his  hand, 
and  satisfieth  the  desires  of  all  the  living. 
Psalm  145  :  15,  IG.  He  is  not  only  righ- 
teous in  all  his  ways,  and  therefore  will  deal 
justly ;  and  holy  in  all  his  works,  and  there- 
fore not  the  author  of  sin,  but  he  is  also  good 
to  all,  and  his  tender  mercies  are  over  all 
his  works.   Psalm  145  :  17,  19. 

But  as  for  man,  we  know  his  mind  is 
dark,  his  will  perverse,  and  liis  affections 


Doot.  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  ISO 

carry  him  so  headlong,  that  he  is  fitted  by 
his  folly  and  corruption  to  such  a  work  as  the 
destroying  of  himself.    If  you  saw  a  lamb 
lie  killed  in  the  way,  would  j^ou  sooner  sus- 
]>ect  the  sheep  or  the  wolf  to  be  the  author 
of  it,  if  they  both  stand  by  ?    Or  if  you  see 
a  house   broken  open,  and  the  people  mur- 
dered, would  you  sooner  suspect  the  prince 
or  judge,  that  is  wise  and  just,  and  had  no 
need,  or  a  known  thief  or  murderer?    I  say, 
therefore,  as  James,  1  :  13-15,  "  Let  no  man 
say,  when  he  is  tempted,  that  he  is  tempted 
of  God,  for  God    cannot  be  tempted  with 
evil,  neither  tempteth  he  any  man,  (to  draw 
him  to  sin,)  but  every  man  is  tempted  when 
he  is  drawn  away  of  his  own  lust  and  en- 
ticed.   Then  when   lust  hath  conceived,  it 
bringeth  forth  sin ;  and  sin,  when  it  is  finish- 
ed, bringeth  forth  death."  You  see  here  that 
sin   is  the   ofi'spring  of  your  own   concupi- 
scence, and  not  to  be  charged  on  God  ;  and 
that  death  is  the  oftsprmg  of  your  own  sin, 
;md  the  IVuit  which  it  will  yield  3^ou  as  soon 
;is  it  is  ripe.    You  have  a  treasure  of  evil  in 
yourselves,  as  a  spider  hath  of  poison,  from 
whence  you  are  bringing  forth  hurt  to  your- 
selves, and  spinning  such  webs  as  entanirlo 


190  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.7. 

your  own    souls.    Your   nature  shows  it  is 
you  that  are  the  cause. 

2.  It  is  evident  that  you  are  3^our  own  de- 
stroyers, in  that  you  are  so  ready  to  enter- 
tain any  temptation  almost  that  is  offered  to 
you.  Satan  is  scarcely  more  ready  to  move 
you  to  any  evil,  than  you  are  ready  to  hear 
and  to  do  as  he  would  have  you.  If  he 
would  tempt  your  understanding  to  error 
and  prejudice,  you  yield.  If  he  would  hin- 
der you  from  good  resolutions,  it  is  soon 
done.  If  he  would  cool  any  good  desires  or 
aftections,  it  is  soon  done.  If  he  would  kin- 
dle any  lust,  or  vile  affections  and  desires  in 
3^ou,  it  is  soon  done.  If  he  will  put  you  on 
to  evil  thoughts,  words  or  deeds,  you  are  so 
free  that  he  needs  no  rod  or  spur.  If  he 
w^ould  keep  you  from  holy  thoughts,  and 
words  and  ways,  a  little  does  it,  you  need 
no  curb.  You  examine  not  his  suggestions, 
nor  resist  them  with  any  resolution,  nor  cast 
them  out  as  he  casts  them  in,  nor  quench 
the  sparks  which  he  endeavoreth  to  kindle  ; 
but  vou  set  in  with  him,  and  meet  him  half 
way,  and  embrace  his  motions,  and  tempt 
him  to  tempt  you.  And  it  is  eas}^  for  him 
to  catch  such  greedy  fish  that  are  ranging 


Doct  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED. 


191 


for   a    bait,   and  will   take  the  bare    hook. 
3.  Your  destruction  is  evidently  of  your- 
selves, in  that  you  resist  all  that  would  help 
to  save  you,  and  would  do  you  good,   or 
hinder  3^ou  from  undoing  yourselves.    God 
would  help  and  save  you  by  his  word,  and 
you  resist  it;  it  is  too  strict  for  you.    He 
would  sanctify  you  by  his  Spirit,  and  you 
resist  and  quench  it.    If  any  man  reprove 
you   for  your  sin,  you  fly  in  his  face  with 
evil  words ;  and  if  he  would  draw  you  to  a 
holy  life,  and  tell  you  of  your  present  dan- 
ger, you  give  him  little  thanks,  but  either 
bid  him  look  to  himself,  he  will  not  have  to 
answer  for  you ;  or  at  best  you  put  him  off 
with  heartless  thanks,  and  will  not  turn  when 
3^ou  are  entreated.    If  ministers  would  pri- 
vately instruct  and  help  you,  you  will  not 
come  to  them;  your  unhumbled  souls  feel 
but  little  need  of  their  help ;  if  they  would 
teach  you,  you  are   too  old    to   be  taught, 
though  you  are  not  too  old  to  be  ignorant 
and  unholy.    Whatever  they  can  say  to  you 
for   your  good,    you   are    so    self-conceited 
and  wise  in  your  own   eyes,  even  in  the 
depth  of  ignorance,  that  you  will  regard  no- 
tning  that  agreeth  not  with  your  present  con- 


192  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  7 

ceits,  but  contradict  vour  teachers,  as  if  vou 
were  wiser  than  they ;  you  resist  all  that 
the}'  can  say  to  you,  by  your  ignorance,  and 
wilfulness,  and  foolish  cavils,  and  shifting 
evasions,  and  unthankful  rejections,  so  that 
no  good  that  is  offered  can  find  any  welcome, 
or  acceptance,  or  entertainment  with  you. 

4.  Moreover,  it  is  apparent  that  you  are 
self-destroyers,  in  that  vou  "  draw  the  mat- 
ter  of  your  sin  and  destruction  even  from 
the  blessed  God  himself"  You  hke  not  the 
contrivances  of  his  wisdom  ;  you  like  not 
his  justice,  but  take  it  for  crueUy  ;  you  like 
not  his  holiness,  but  are  ready  to  think  he  is 
such  a  one  as  yourselves,  Psalm  50  :  21.  and 
makes  as  light  of  sin  as  you  do  ;  yon  like 
not  his  truth,  but  would  have  his  threaten- 
ings,  even  his  peremptory  threatening?^, 
prove  false  ;  and  his  goodness,  which  vou 
seem  most  highly  to  approve,  you  partly  re- 
sist, as  it  would  lead  you  to  repentance  ;  and 
partly  abuse,  to  the  strengthening  of  youi- 
sin,  as  if  vou  mio-ht  more  freely  sin  because 
(Jod  is  merciful,  and  because  his  grace  doth 
so  much  abound. 

5.  Yea,  you  draw  down  destruction  even 
from  the  blessed  Redeemer,  and  death  from 


DocU7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  19o 

the  Lord  of  lif(3  himself!  and  nothing  more 
emboldcneth  you  in  sin,  than  that  Christ  hath 
died  tor  you  ;  as  if  now  the  danger  of  death 
were  over,  and  you  might  boldly  venture  ; 
as  if  Christ  were  become  a  servant  to  Satan 
and  your  sins,  and  must  wait  upon  you 
while  you  are  abusing  him ;  and  because 
he  is  become  the  Ph3^sician  of  souls,  and  is 
able  to  save  to  the  uttermost  all  that  come 
to  God  by  him,  you  think  he  must  suffer  you 
to  refuse  his  help,  and  throw  away  his  re- 
medies, and  must  save  you  whether  you  will 
come  to  God  by  him  or  not :  so  that  a  great 
part  of  your  sins  are  occasioned  by  your  bold 
presumption  upon  the  death  of  Christ,  not 
considering  that  he  came  to  redeem  his  peo- 
ple from  their  sins,  and  to  sanctify  them  a 
peculiar  people  to  himself,  and  to  conform 
them  in  holiness  to  the  image  of  their  hea- 
venly Father,  and  to  their  head.  Matt.  1  : 
21  ;  Tit.  2  :  14  ;  1  Pet.  1  :  15,  IG ;  Col.  3  : 
10,  11  ;  Phil.  3  :  9,  10.  * 

0.  You  also  draw  your  own  destruction 
from  all  the  providences  and  works  of  God. 
When  you  think  of  his  eternal  fore-know- 
ledge and  decrees,  it  is  to  harden  you  in 
your  sin,  or  possess  your  minds  with  quar- 

U.  CaU.  17 


194  A   CALL    TO  (Doct.  7 

relling  thoughts,  as  if  his  decrees  might 
spare  you  the  labor  of  repentance  and  a  holy 
life,  or  else  were  the  cause  of  your  sin  and 
death.  If  he  afflict  you,  you  repine ;  if  he 
prosper  you,  you  the  more  forget  him,  and 
are  the  more  backward  to  the  thoughts  of 
the  life  to  come.  If  the  wicked  prosper,  you 
forget  the  end  that  will  set  all  reckonings 
straight,  and  are  ready  to  think  it  is  as  good 
to  be  wicked  as  godly  ;  and  thus  you  draw 
your  death  from  all. 

7.  And  you  pervert  to  your  ruin  all  the 
creatures  and  mercies  of  God  to  you.  He 
giveth  them  to  you  as  the  tokens  of  his  love 
and  furniture  for  his  service,  and  you  turn 
them  against  him,  to  the  pleasing  of  your 
flesh.  You  eat  and  drink  to  please  your  ap- 
petite, and  not  for  the  glor}^  of  God  and  to 
enable  you  to  perform  his  work.  Your  clothes 
3^ou  abuse  to  pride ;  3^our  riches  draw  your 
hearts  from  heaven,  Phil.  3:18;  your  ho- 
nors and  appl5.use  puff  you  up  ;  if  you  have 
health  and  strength,  it  makes  you  more  se- 
cure, and  you  forget  your  end.  Yea,  other 
men's  mercies  are  abused  by  you  to  your 
hurt.  If  you  see  their  honors  and  dignity, 
you  are  provoked  to  envy  them ;  if  you  see 


Doct.7.)         THE  UNCONVERTED.  195 

their  riches,  you  are  ready  to  covet  them ;  if 
you  look  upon  beauty,  you  are  stirred  up  to 
lust ;  and  it  is  well  if  godliness  itself  be  not 
an  eye-sore  to  you. 

8.  The  very  gifts  that  God  bestoweth  on 
you,  and  the  ordinances  of  grace  which  he 
hath  instituted  for  his  church,  3'ou  turn  to 
sin.  If  you  have  better  parts  than  others,  you 
grow  proud  and  self-conceited  ;  if  you  have 
but  common  gifts,  you  take  them  for  special 
grace.  You  take  the  bare  hearing  of  3'our 
duty  for  so  good  a  work,  as  if  it  would  ex- 
cuse you  for  not  obeying  it.  Your  prayers 
are  turned  into  sin,  because  you  *'  regard 
iniquity  in  your  hearts,"  and  depart  not  from 
iniquity  when  you  call  on  the  name  of  the 
Lord.  Psalm  66  :  IS  ;  2  Tim.  2  :  19.  Your 
*'  prayers  are  abominable,  because  you  turn 
away  your  ear  from  hearing  the  law,"  and 
are  more  ready  to  offer  the  sacrifice  of  fools, 
thinking  you  do  God  some  special  service, 
than  to  hear  his  word  and  obey  it.  Pro  v. 
28  :  9  ;  Eccles.  5  :  1. 

9.  Yea,  the  persons  that  j^ou  converse 
with,  and  all  their  actions,  you  make  the  oc- 
casions of  your  sin  and  destruction.  If  thev 
live  in  the  fear  of  God,  you  hate  them.  If 


196  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  7 

they  live  ungodly,  you  imitate  them ;  if  the 
wicked  are  many,  you  think  you  may  the 
more  boldly  follow  them ;  if  the  godly  bo 
few,  3-0U  are  the  more  emboldened  to  des- 
pise them.  If  they  walk  exactly,  you  think 
they  are  too  precise  ;  if  one  of  them  fall  in  a 
particular  temptation,  you  stumble  and  turn 
away  from  holiness  because  others  are  im- 
perfectly holy  ;  as  if  you  were  warranted  to 
break  your  necks  because  some  others  have, 
by  their  heedlessness,  sprained  a  sinew  or 
put  out  a  bone.  If  a  h3^pocrite  discover  him- 
self, 3^ou  say,  "  They  are  all  alike,"  and 
think  yourselves  as  honest  as  the  best.  A 
professor  can  scarce  slip  into  any  miscar- 
riage, but  because  he  cuts  his  linger  you 
think  you  may  boldly  cut  your  throats.  If 
ministers  deal  plainly  with  you,  j^ou  say  they 
rail.  If  they  speak  gently  or  coldly,  you 
either  sleep  under  them,  or  are  little  more 
affected  than  the  seats  you  sit  upon.  If  any 
errors  creep  into  the  church,  some  greedi- 
ly entertain  them,  and  others  reproach  the 
christian  doctrine  for  them,  which  is  most 
nirainst  them.  And  ifw^e  would  draw  you 
from  any  ancient  rooted  error,  which  can 
but  plead  two,  or  three,  or  six,  or  seven  hun- 


Doct.  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  197 

dred  years'  custom,  you  are  as  much  offend- 
ed with  a  motion  for  reformation  as  if  you 
were  to  lose  your  life  by  it,  and  hold  fast  old 
errors,  while  you  cry  out  against  new  ones. 
Scarce  a  difference  can  arise  among  the 
ministers  of  the  Gospel  but  you  will  draw 
your  own  death  from  it ;  and  you  will  not 
hear,  or  at  least  not  obey,  the  unquestion- 
able doctrine  of  any  of  those  that  agree  not 
with  your  conceits.  One  will  not  hear  a  min- 
ister because  he  readeth  his  sermons ;  an- 
other will  not  hear  him  because  he  doth  not 
read  them.  One  will  not  hear  him  because 
he  saith  the  Lord's  prayer ;  and  another  will 
not  hear  him  because  he  doth  not  use  it. 
One  will  not  hear  them  that  are  for  episco- 
pacy ;  and  another  will  not  hear  them  that 
are  against  it.  And  thus  I  might  show 
you  in  many  other  cases,  how  you  turn  all 
that  comes  near  you  to  your  own  destruc- 
tion ;  so  clear  is  it  that  the  ungodly  are  self- 
destroyers,  and  that  their  perdition  is  of 
themselves. 

Methinks  now,  upon  the  consideration  of 
what  is  said,  and  the  review  of  your  own 
ways,  you   should    bethink   you  what  you 

17* 


198  A    CALL    TO  (Doct7 

have  done,  and  be  ashamed  and  deeply 
Mimhled  to  remember  it.  If  you  be  not,  I 
pray  you  consider  these  following  truths  : 

1.  To  be  your  own  destro3^ers  is  to  sin 
against  the  deepest  principle  in  your  na- 
tures, even  the  principle  of  self-preservation. 
Every  thing  naturally  desireth  or  inclineth 
to  its  own  felicity,  welfare  or  perfection ; 
and  will  you  set  yourselves  to  your  own  de- 
struction V  When  you  are  commanded  to 
love  your  neighbors  as  yourselves,  it  is  sup- 
posed that  you  naturally  love  yourselves ; 
but  if  you  love  your  neighbors  no  better  than 
yourselves,  it  seems  you  would  have  all  the 
world  to  be  damned. 

2.  How  extremely  do  you  cross  your  own 
intentions  !  I  know  you  intend  not  your 
own  damnation,  even  when  you  are  procu- 
ring it ;  you  think  you  are  but  doing  good  to 
yourselves,  by  gratifying  the  desires  of  your 
flesh.  But,  alas,  it  is  but  as  a  draught  of  cold 
water  in  a  burning  fever,  or  as  the  scratch- 
ing of  an  itching  wild-fire,  which  increaseth 
the  disease  and  pain.  If  indeed  you  would 
have  pleasure,  profit  or  honor,  seek  them 
where  they  are  to  be  found,  and  do  not  hunt 
after  them  in  the  way  to  hell. 


Doct.7.)  THE    Ux\COXVERTED.  109 

3.  What  pity  is  it  that  you  should  do 
that  against  yourselves  which  none  else  on 
earth  or  in  hell  can  do !  If  all  the  world 
were  combined  against  you,  or  all  the  devils 
in  hell  were  combined  against  you,  they 
could  not  destroy  you  without  yourselves, 
nor  make  you  sin  but  by  your  own  consent : 
and  will  you  do  that  against  yourselves 
which  no  one  else  can  do?  You  have  hate- 
ful thoughts  of  the  devil,  because  he  is  your 
enemy,  and  endcavoreth  your  destruction  ; 
and  will  you  be  worse  than  devils  to  your- 
selves ?  Why  thus  it  is  with  you,  if  you 
had  hearts  to  understand  it :  when  you  run 
into  sin,  and  run  from  godliness,  and  refuse 
to  turn  at  the  call  of  God,  you  do  more 
against  your  own  souls  than  men  or  devils 
could  do  besides ;  and  if  you  should  set 
yourselves  and  bend  your  wits  to  do  your- 
selves the  greatest  mischief,  you  could  not 
devise  to  do  a  greater. 

4.  You  are  false  to  the  trust  that  God  hath 
reposed  in  vou.  He  hath  much  intrusted  you 
with  your  own  salvation  ;  and  will  you  be- 
tray your  trust?  He  hath  set  you,  with  all 
diligence,  to  keep  your  hearts ;  and  is  this 
the  keeping  of  them  ?  Prov.  4  :  23. 


200  A    CALL    To  (Doct.7 

5.  You  do  even  forbid  all  others  to  pity 
you,  when  you  will  have  no  pity  on  3^our- 
selves.  If  you  cry  to  God  in  the  day  of 
your  calamit}''  for  mercy,  mercy ;  what  can 
3'ou  expect,  but  that  he  should  thrust  3'ou 
away,  and  say,  "  Nay,  thou  wouldst  not 
have  mercy  on  th3rself:  who  brought  this 
upon  thee  but  thy  own  wilfulness?"  And 
if  your  brethren  see  3^ou  everlastingly  in 
misery,  how  shall  they  pity  you  that  were 
your  own  destroyers,  and  would  not  be  dis- 
suaded ? 

6.  It  will  everlastingly  make  you  your 
own  tormentors  in  hell,  to  think  that  3^ou 
brought  yourselves  wilfully  to  that  miser}'. 
O  what  a  piercing  thought  it  will  be  for  ever 
to  think  with  yourselves  that  this  was  your 
own  doing !  that  3^ou  were  warned  of  this 
da}^,  and  warned  again,  but  it  would  not  do  ; 
that  you  wilfully  sinned,  and  wilfully  turned 
away  from  God !  that  you  had  time  as  well 
as  others,  but  you  abused  it ;  you  had  teach- 
ers as  well  as  others,  but  3'ou  refused  their 
instruction ;  3'ou  had  holy  examples,  but 
you  did  not  imitate  them  ;  you  were  offered 
Christ,  and  grace,  and  glory,  as  well  as 
others,  but  you  had  more  mind  to  3^our  flesh- 


Doct.  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  201 

ly  pleasures  !  you  had  a  price  in  your  hands, 
but  you  had  not  a  heart  to  lay  it  out.  Prov. 
17  :  IG.  Can  it  fail  to  torment  you  to  think 
of  this  your  present  follv  ?  O  that  your  eyes 
were  open  to  s(3C  what  you  have  done  in  the 
wilful  wronging  of  your  own  souls  !  and  that 
you  better  understood  these  words  of  God, 
"  Hear  instruction  and  be  wise,  and  refuse 
it  not.  Blessed  is  the  man  that  heareth  me, 
watching  daily  at  my  gates,  waiting  at  tlie 
2")0Sts  of  my  doors :  lor  whoso  lindeth  me 
iindeth  life,  and  shall  obtain  favor  of  the 
Lord.  But  he  that  sinneth  against  mc, 
wrongeth  his  own  soul.  All  they  that  hate 
me  love  death."  Prov.  8  :  33,  36. 

And  now  I  am  come  to  tlic  conclusion  of 
this  work,  my  heart  is  troubled  to  think  how 
1  shall  leave  you,  lest  after  this  the  flesh 
should  still  deceive  you,  and  the  world  and 
tlie  devil  should  keep  you  asleep,  and  I 
should  leave  you  as  I  found  you,  till  3'ou 
awake  in  hell.  Though  in  care  of  your  poor 
souls,  I  am  afraid  of  this,  as  knowing  the 
obstinacy  of  a  carnal  heart ;  yet  I  can  say 
with  the  prophet  Jeremiah,  "I  have  not  de- 
sired the  woful  day,  thou   Lord   knowest." 


202  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  7. 

17  :   IG.   I    have  not,  with  James  and  John, 
desired  that  "file  might  come  from  heaven'* 
to  consume  them  that  refused  Jesus  Christ. 
Luke,  9  :  54.    But  it  is  the  preventing  of  the 
eternal  fire  that  I  have  been  all  this  while 
endeavorinc: :  and  O  that  it  had  been  a  need- 
less  work !  that  God  and  conscience  might 
have  been  as  willing  to  spare  me  this  labor 
as   some   of  vou    could    have   been.    Dear 
friends,  I  am  so  loth  that  you  should  lie  in 
everlasting  fire,  and  be  shut  out  of  heaven, 
if  it  be   possible  to  prevent  it,  that  I  shall 
once  more  ask  you,  what  do  you  now  re- 
solve ?    Will  you  turn,  or  die  ?    I  look  upon 
you  as  a  physician  on  his  patient  in  a  dan- 
gerous disease,  that  saith  to  him,  "  Though 
3^ou  are  far  gone,  take   but  this  medicine, 
and  forbear  but  these   few  things  that  are 
hurtful  to  you,  and  I  dare  warrant  your  life  ; 
but  if  3^ou  will  not  do  this  you  are  but  a 
dead  man."    What  would  you  think  of  such 
a  man,  if  the  physician,  and  all  the  friends 
he  hath,  cannot  persuade   him  to  take  one 
medicine  to  save  his  life,  or  to  forbear  one 
or  two  poisonous  things  that  would  kill  him  ? 
This  is  your  case.    As  far  as  you  are  gone 
in  s.in,  do  but  now  turn  and  come  to  Christ, 


DocL7.)  THE   UNCONVERTED.  203 

and  take  his  remedies,  and  your  souls  shall 
live.  Cast  up  your  deadly  sins  by  repent- 
ance, and  return  not  to  the  poisonous  vomit 
any  more,  and  you  shall  do  well.  But  yet, 
if  it  were  your  bodies  that  we  had  to  deal 
with,  we  might  partly  know  what  to  do  for 
you.  Though  you  would  not  consent,  yet 
you  might  be  held  or  bound  while  the  me- 
dicine was  poured  down  your  throats,  and 
hurtful  things  might  be  kept  from  you.  But 
about  your  souls  it  cannot  be  so ;  we  cannot 
convert  you  against  your  wills.  There  is 
no  carrying  madmen  to  heaven  in  fetters. 
You  may  be  condemned  against  your  wills, 
because  you  sinned  with  your  wills ;  but 
you  cannot  be  saved  against  your  wills. 
The  wisdom  of  God  has  thought  meet  to  lay 
men's  salvation  or  destruction  exceedinfr 
much  upon  the  choice  of  their  own  will,  that 
no  man  shall  come  to  heaven  that  chose  not 
the  way  to  heaven ;  and  no  man  shall  come 
to  hell,  but  shall  be  forced  to  say,  "  I  have 
the  thing  I  chose,  my  own  will  did  bring  me 
hither."  Now,  if  I  could  but  get  you  to  be 
willing,  to  be  thoroughly,  and  resolvedly, 
and  habitually  willing,  the  work  were  more 
than  half  done.    And  alas !  must  we  lose 


204  A    CALL    TO  (Doct  7 

our  friends,  and  must  they  lose  their  God, 
their  happiness,  their  souls,  for  want  of  this  V 
O  God  forbid  I  It  is  a  strange  thing  to  me 
that  men  are  so  unnatural  and  stupid  in  the 
greatest  matters,  who  in  lesser  things  are 
civil  and  courteous,  and  good  neighbors. 

For  aught  I  know,  I  have  the  love  of  all, 

or  almost  all  my  neighbors,  so  far,  that  if  I 

should    send    to  any   man  in  the  town,  or 

parish,  or  county,  and  request  a  reasonable 

courtesy  of  them,  they  would  grant  it  me ; 

and  yet  when  I  come  to  request  of  them  the 

greatest  matter  in  the  world,  for  themselves 

and  not  for  me,  I  can  have  nothing  of  many 

of  them  but  a  patient  hearing.    I  know  not 

whether  people  think  a  man  in  the  pulpit 

is  in  good  earnest  or  not,  and  means  as  he 

speaks  ;  for  I  think  I  have  few  neighbors ;  but 

if  I  were  sitting  familiarly  with  them,  and 

telling  them  what  I  have  seen  and  done,  or 

known  in  the  world,  they  would  believe  me 

and  regard  what  I  say  ;  but  when  I  tell  them, 

from  the  infallible  word  of  God,  w^hat  they 

tliemselves  shall  see  and  know  in  the  world 

to  come,  they  show  by  their  lives  that  they 

do  either  not  believe  it  or  not  much  regard 

it.    If  I  met  any  one  of  them  on  the  way, 


Doct.  7.)  THE    UiVCOiWERTED.  205 

and  told  them  yonder  is  a  coal-pit,  or  there 
is  a  quicksand,  or  there  are  thieves  lying  in 
wait  for  you,  I  could  persuade  them  to  turn 
by ;  but  when  I  tell  them  that  Satan  lieth  in 
wait  for  them,  and  that  sin  is  poison  to  them, 
and  that  hell  is  not  a  matter  to  be  jested 
with,  they  go  on  as  if  they  did  not  hear  me. 
Truly,  neighbors,  I  am  in  as  good  earnest 
with  you  in  the  pulpit  as  I  am  in  any  fami- 
liar discourse ;  and  if  ever  j^ou  will  regard 
me,  I  beseech  you  let  it  be  here. 

I  think  there  is  not  a  man  of  you  all,  but, 
if  my  own  soul  lay  at  your  wills,  you  would 
be  willing  to  save  it,  though  I  cannot  pro- 
mise that  3"ou  would  leave  your  sins  for  it. 
Tell  me,  thou  drunkard,  art  thou  so  cruel  to 
me,  that  thou  wouldst  not  forbear  a  few 
cups  of  drink,  if  thou  knewest  it  would  save 
my  soul  from  hell'/  Hadst  thou  rather  that  I 
did  burn  there  for  ever  than  thou  shouldst 
live  soberly  as  other  men  do  ?  If  so,  may  I 
not  say,  thou  art  an  unmerciful  monster,  and 
not  a  man  i    If  I  came  hunirry  or  naked  to 

CD     J 

one  of  your  doors,  would  you  not  part  with 
more  than  a  cup  of  drink  to  relieve  me  ?  I 
am  confident  vou  would.  If  it  were  to  save 
my  life,  I  know  you  would f  some  of  you, 

D.  Call.  18 


206  A    CALL    TO  (Doct-7. 

hazard  3'our  own  ;  and  yet  will  you  not  be 
entreated  to  part  with  your  sensual  plea- 
sures for  3'our  own  salvation  ?  Wouldst 
thou  forbear  a  hundred  cups  of  drink  to 
save  my  life,  if  it  were  in  thy  power,  and 
wilt  thou  not  do  it  to  save  thy  own  soul  ? 
I  profess  to  ^-ou,  sirs,  I  am  as  hearty  a  beg- 
gar with  you  this  day  for  the  saving  of  your 
own  souls,  as  I  would  be  for  my  own  sup- 
ply, if  I  were  forced  to  come  begging  to 
your  doors;  and  therefore  if  you  w^ould 
hear  me  then,  hear  me  now.  If  you  would 
pity  me  then,  be  entreated  now  to  pity 
yourselves.  I  do  again  beseech  you,  as  if  it 
were  on  my  bended  knees,  that  you  would 
hearken  to  3'our  Redeemer,  and  turn,  that 
you  may  live. 

All  3'OU  that  have  lived  in  ignorance,  and 
carelessness,  and  presumption,  to  this  day ; 
all  you  that  have  been  drow^ned  in  the  cares 
of  the  world,  and  have  no  mind  of  God  and 
eternal  glory ;  all  you  that  are  enslaved  to 
your  fleshly  desires  of  meats  and  drinks, 
sports  and  lusts  ;  and  all  you  that  know  not 
the  necessity  of  holiness,  and  never  were 
acquainted  with  the  sanctifying  w^ork  of  the 
Holy  Ghost  upon  your  souls  ;  that  never  em- 


Doct  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  207 

braced  your  blessed  Redeemer  by  a  lively 
faith,  and  with  admiring  and  thankful  ap- 
prehensions of  his  love  ;  and  that  never  felt 
a  higher  estimation  of  God  and  heaven,  and 
a  heartier  love  to  them  than  to  3'our  fleshl}" 
prosperity,  and  the  things  below  ;  I  earnest- 
ly beseech  you,  not  only  for  my  sake,  but 
for  the  Lord's  sake,  and  for  your  soul's  sake, 
that  you  go  not  on  one  day  longer  in  your 
former  condition,  but  look  about  3'ou,  and 
cry  to  God  for  converting  grace,  that  you 
may  be  made  new  creatures,  and  may  es- 
cape the  plagues  that  are  but  a  little  before 
you.  And  if  ever  you  will  do  any  thing  for 
me,  grant  me  this  request,  to  turn  from  your 
evil  ways  and  live.  Deny  me  any  thing  that 
ever  I  shall  ask  you  for  myself,  if  you  will 
but  grant  me  this  ;  and  if  you  deny  me  this, 
I  care  not  for  any  thing  else  that  you  would 
grant  me.  Nay,  as  ever  you  will  do  any 
thing  at  the  request  of  the  Lord  that  made 
you,  and  redeemed  you,  deny  him  not  this ; 
for  if  you  deny  him  this,  he  cares  for  nothing 
that  you  shall  grant  him.  As  ever  you  would 
have  him  hear  your  prayers,  and  grant  your 
requests,  and  do  for  you  at  the  hour  of  death 
and  day  of  judgment,  or  in  any  of  your  ex- 


208  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  7. 

tremities,  deny  not  his  request  now  in  the 
day  of  your  prosperity.  O  sirs,  believe  it, 
death  and  judgment,  and  heaven  and  hell, 
are  other  matters  when  you  come  near  them, 
than  they  seem  to  carnal  eyes  afar  off:  then 
you  would  hear  such  a  message  as  I  bring 
vou  with  more  awakened  re2:ardful  hearts. 

Well,  though  I  cannot  hope  so  well  of  all, 
I  will  hope  that  some  of  you  are  by  this  time 
purposing  to  turn  and  live  ;  and  that  you  are 
ready  to  ask  me,  as  the  Jews  did  Peter 
when  they  were  pricked  in  their  hearts  and 
said,  "  Men  and  brethren,  what  shall  we 
do  ?"  Acts,  2  :  37.  How  may  we  come  to 
be  truly  converted  ?  We  are  willing,  if  we 
did  but  know  our  duty.  God  forbid  that  we 
should  choose  destruction  by  refusing  con- 
version, as  hitherto  we  have  done. 

If  these  be  the  thoughts  and  purposes  of 
your  hearts,  I  say  of  you  as  God  did  of  a 
promising  people,  Deut.  5  :  28,  29,  "  They 
have  well  said  all  that  they  have  spoken : 
O  that  there  was  such  a  heart  in  them,  that 
they  would  fear  me,  and  keep  all  my  com- 
mandments always !"  Your  purposes  are 
good  :  O  that  there  were  but  a  heart  in  you 
to   perform   these  purposes !    And  in  hope 


Doct,  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED,  209 

hereof  I  shall  gladly  give  you  direction 
what  to  do,  and  that  but  briefly,  that  j'ou 
may  the  more  easily  remember  it  lor  your 
practice. 

Direction  I. — If  you  would  be  convert- 
ed and  saved,  labor  to  understand  the  ne- 
cessity and  true  nature  of  conversion  :  for 
what,  and  from  what,  and  to  what,  and  by 
what  it  is  that  you  must  turn. 

Consider  in  what  a  lamentable  condition 
you  are  till  the  hour  of  your  conversion,  that 
you  may  see  it  is  not  a  state  to  be  rested  in. 
You  are  under  the  guilt  of  all  the  sins  that 
ever  you  committed,  and  under  the  wrath 
of  God  and  the  curse  of  his  law;  you  are 
bond  slaves  to  the  devil,  and  daily  employ- 
ed in  his  work  against  the  Lord,  yourselves, 
and  others ;  you  are  spiritually  dead  and 
deformed,  as  being  devoid  of  the  holy  life, 
and  nature,  and  image  of  the  Lord.  You 
are  unfit  for  any  holy  work,  and  do  nothing 
that  is  truly  pleasing  to  God.  You  are  with- 
out any  promise  or  assurance  of  his  protec- 
tion, and  live  in  continual  danger  of  his  jus- 
tice, not  knowing  what  hour  you  may  be 
snatched  away  to  hell,  and  most  certain  to 

18» 


210  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.7. 

be  damned  if  you  die  in  that  condition  ;  and 
nothing  short  of  conversion  can  prevent  it. 
Whatever  civilities,  or  amendments,  or  vir- 
tues are  short  of  true  conversion,  will  never 
procure  the  saving  of  your  souls.  Keep  the 
true  sense  of  this  natural  misery,  and  so  of 
the  necessity  of  conversion,  on  your  hearts. 

And  then  you  must  understand  what  it  is 
to  be  converted ;  it  is  to  have  a  new  heart 
or  disposition,  and  a  new  conversation. 

1.  Consider /or  what  you  must  turn.  For 
these  ends  following,  which  you  may  attain: 
1.  You  shall  immediately  be  made  living 
members  of  Christ,  and  have  an  interest  in 
him,  and  be  renewed  after  the  image  of 
God,  and  be  adorned  with  all  his  graces, 
and  quickened  with  a  new  and  heavenly 
life,  and  saved  from  the  tyranny  of  Satan 
and  the  dominion  of  sin,  and  be  justified 
from  the  curse  of  the  law,  and  have  the  par- 
don of  all  the  sins  of  your  whole  lives,  and 
be  accepted  of  God,  and  made  his  sons, 
and  have  liberty  with  boldness  to  call  him 
Father,  and  go  to  him  by  prayer  in  all  your 
needs,  with  a  promise  of  acceptance ;  you 
shall  have  the  Holy  Ghost  to  dwell  in  you, 
to  sanctify  and  guide  you ;  you  shall  have 


Doct7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED,  211 

part  in  the  brotherhood,  communion,  and 
prayers  of  the  saints  ;  you  shall  be  fitted  for 
God's  service,  and  be  freed  from  the  do- 
minion of  sin,  and  be  useful,  and  a  blessing 
to  the  place  where  you  live  ;  and  shall  have 
the  promise  of  this  life,  and  that  which  is 
to  come :  you  shall  want  nothing  that  is 
truly  good  for  you,  and  your  necessary  af- 
flictions you  will  be  enabled  to  bear ;  you 
may  have  some  taste  of  communion  with 
God  in  the  Spirit,  especially  in  all  holy  or- 
dinances, where  God  prepareth  a  feast  for 
your  souls;  you  shall  be  heirs  of  heaven 
while  you  live  on  earth,  and  may  foresee  by 
faith  the  everlasting  glory,  and  so  may  live 
and  die  in  peace;  and  you  shall  never  be 
so  low  but  your  happiness  will  be  incom- 
parably greater  than  your  misery. 

How  precious  is  every  one  of  these  bless- 
ings, which  I  do  but  briefly  name,  and  which 
in  this  life  you  may  receive ! 

And  then,  2.  At  death  your  souls  shall  go 
to  Christ,  and  at  the  day  of  judgment  both 
soul  and  body  shall  be  justified  and  glorified, 
and  enter  into  your  Master's  joy,  where  your 
happiness  will  consist  in  these  particulars : 

(1.)  You  shall  be   perfected   yourselves; 


212  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  7. 

your  mortal  bodies  shall  be  made  immortal, 
and  the  corruptible  shall  put  on  incorrup- 
tion  ;  you  shall  no  more  be  hungry,  or  thirs- 
t}^,  or  weary,  or  sick,  nor  shall  you  need  to 
fear  either  shame,  or  sorrow,  or  death,  or 
hell ;  your  souls  shall  be  perfectly  freed  from 
sin,  and  perfectly  fitted  for  the  knowledge, 
and  love,  and  praises  of  the  Lord. 

(2.)  Your  employment  shall  be  to  behold 
your  glorified  Redeemer,  with  all  your  holy 
fellow-citizens  of  heaven,  and  to  see  the  glo- 
ry of  the  most  blessed  God,  and  to  love  him 
perfectl}^  and  be  beloved  by  him,  and  to 
praise  him  everlastingh^ 

(3.)  Your  gloiy  will  contribute  to  the  glory 
of  the  New  Jerusalem,  the  city  of  the  living 
God,  which  is  more  than  to  have  a  private 
felicity  to  yourselves. 

(4.)  Your  glory  will  contribute  to  the  glo- 
rifying of  your  Redeemer,  who  will  everlast- 
ingly be  magnified  and  pleased  in  you  that 
are  the  travail  of  his  soul,  and  this  is  more 
than  the  glorifying  of  yourselves. 

(5.)  And  the  eternal  Majesty,  the  living 
God,  will  be  glorified  in  your  glory,  both  as 
he  is  magnified  by  your  praises,  and  as  he 
communicateth  of  his  glory  and  goodness  to 


Doct,7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  213 

you,  and  as  he  is  pleased  in  you,  and  in  the 
accomplishment  of  his  glorious  work,  in  the 
glory  of  the  New  Jerusalem,  and  of  his  Son. 
All  this  the  poorest  beggar  of  you  that  is 
converted  shall  certainly  and  endlessly  enjoy. 

2.  Next  you  must  understand  from  wfiat 
you  must  turn ;  and  this  is,  in  a  word,  from 
your  carnal  self,  which  is  the  end  of  all  the 
unconverted :  from  the  flesh  that  would  be 
pleased  before  God,  and  would  still  be  en- 
ticing you  ;  from  the  world,  that  is  the  bait; 
and  from  the  devil,  that  is  the  angler  for 
souls,  and  the  deceiver.  And  so  from  all 
known  and  wilful  sins. 

3.  Next  you  must  know  to  what  you 
must  turn ;  and  that  is,  to  God  as  your  end ; 
to  Christ  as  the  way  to  the  Father ;  to  holi- 
ness as  the  way  appointed  you  by  Christ; 
and  to  the  use  of  all  the  helps  and  means  of 
grace  afforded  you  by  the  Lord. 

4.  Lastly ;  you  must  know  hy  what  you 
must  turn  ;  and  that  is  by  Christ,  as  the  only 
lledeemer  and  Intercessor ;  and  by  the  Holy 
Ghost,  as  the  Sanctiher;  and  by  the  word,  as 
his  instrument  or  means  ;  and  by  faith  and  re- 
pentance, as  the  means  and  duties  on  your 
part  to  be  performed.    All  this  is  of  necessity. 


214  A    CALL    TO  (Doct.  7. 

Direction  II.  If  vou  will  be  converted 
and  saved,  be  much  in  secret  serious  con- 
sideration. Inconsiderateness  undoes  the 
world.  Withdraw  yourselves  oft  into  retired 
secrecy,  and  there  bethink  you  of  the  end 
why  you  were  made,  of  the  life  you  have 
lived,  of  the  time  you  have  lost,  the  sins  you 
have  committed  ;  of  the  love,  and  sufferings, 
and  fulness  of  Christ ;  of  the  danger  you  are 
in  ;  of  the  nearness  of  death  and  judgment ; 
of  the  certainty  and  excellency  of  the  joys 
of  heaven;  and  of  the  certainty  and  terror  of 
the  torments  of  hell,  and  the  eternity  of  both  ; 
and  of  the  necessity  of  conversion  and  a  holy 
life.  Absorb  your  hearts  in  such  considera- 
tions as  these. 

Direction  III.  If  3'ou  will  be  converted 
and  saved,  attend  upon  the  word  of  God, 
w^hich  is  the  ordinary  means.  Read  the 
Scripture,  or  hear  it  read,  and  other  holy 
writings  that  do  apply  it ;  constantly  attend 
on  the  public  preaching  of  the  word.  As  God 
will  lighten  the  world  by  the  sun,  and  not  by 
himself  without  it,  so  will  he  convert  and 
save  men  by  his  ministers,  who  are  the  lights 
of  the  world.  Acts,  26  :  17,  18  ;  Matt.  5  •  14. 


Doot.  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  215 

When  he  had  miraculously  Immbled  Paul, 
he  sent  Ananias  to  him,  Acts,  9  :  10,  and 
when  he  had  sent  an  angel  to  Cornelius,  it 
was  but  to  bid  him  send  for  Peter,  who  must 
tell  him  what  to  believe  and  do. 

Direction  IV.  Betake  yourselves  to  God 
in  a  course  of  earnest  constant  prayer.  Con- 
fess and  lament  your  former  lives,  and  beg 
his  grace  to  illuminate  and  convert  you.  Be- 
seech him  to  pardon  what  is  past,  and  to 
give  you  his  Spirit,  and  change  your  hearts 
and  lives,  and  lead  you  in  his  ways,  and 
save  3"ou  from  temptation.  Pursue  this  w^ork 
daily,  and  be  not  weary  of  it. 

Direction  V.  Presently  give  over  your 
known  and  wilful  sins.  Make  a  stand,  and 
go  that  way  no  farther.  Be  drunk  no  more, 
but  avoid  the  very  occasion  of  it.  Cast  away 
your  lusts  and  sinful  pleasures  with  detesta- 
tion. Curse,  and  swear,  and  rail  no  more ; 
and  if  you  have  wronged  any,  restore,  as 
Zaccheus  did  ;  if  you  will  commit  again  your 
old  sins,  what  blessing  can  you  expect  on 
the  means  for  conversion  ? 

Direction  VI.  Immediatel}'',  if  possible, 


216  A    CALL    TO  (Doct,7. 

change  your  company,  if  it  hath  hitherto 
been  bad ;  not  by  forsaking  your  necessary 
relations,  but  your  unnecessary  sinful  com- 
panions ;  and  join  yourselves  with  those  that 
fear  the  Lord,  and  inquire  of  them  the  way 
to  heaven.  Acts,  9  :  26  ;  Psalm  15  :  4. 

Direction  VII.  Deliver  up  yourselves  to 
the  Lord  Jesus,  as  the  physician  of  your 
souls,  that  he  may  pardon  you  by  his  blood, 
and  sanctify  you  by  his  Spirit,  by  his  word 
and  ministers,  the  instruments  of  the  Spirit. 
He  is  the  way,  the  truth,  and  the  life ;  there 
is  no  coming  to  the  Father  but  by  him.  John, 
14  :  6.  Nor  is  there  any  other  name  under 
heaven  by  which  you  can  be  saved.  Acts, 
4  :  12.  Study,  therefore,  his  person  and  na- 
tures, and  what  he  hath  done  for  you,  and 
what  he  is  to  you,  and  what  he  will  be,  and 
how  he  is  fitted  to  the  full  supply  of  all  your 
necessities. 

Direction  VIII.  If  you  mean  indeed  to 
turn  and  live,  do  it  speedily,  without  dela}^. 
If  you  be  not  willing  to  turn  to-day,  you  are 
not  willing  to  do  it  at  all.  Remember,  you 
are  aU  this  while  in  your  blood,  under  the 


Docl.  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  217 

guilt  of  many  thousand  sins,  and  under  God's 
wrath,  and  you  stand  at  the  very  brink  of 
hell ;  there  is  but  a  step  between  you  and 
death  :  and  this  is  not  a  state  for  a  man  in 
his  right  mind  to  be  quiet  in.  Up  therefore 
presently,  and  fly  as  for  your  lives,  as  you 
would  be  gone  out  of  your  house  if  it  were 
all  on  fire  over  your  head.  O,  if  you  did  but 
know  in  what  continual  dano-er  vou  live,  and 
what  dailv  unspeakable  loss  you  sustain,  and 
what  a  safer  and  sweeter  life  vou  mis^ht  live, 
you  would  not  stand  trifling,  but  presently 
turn.  Multitudes  miscarry  that  wilfully  de- 
lay when  they  are  convinced  that  it  must  be 
done.  Your  lives  are  short  and  uncertain  ; 
and  what  a  case  are  vou  in  if  you  die  before 
you  thoroughly  turn !  You  have  staid  too 
long  already,  and  wronged  God  too  long. 
Sin  getteth  strength  while  you  delay.  Your 
conversion  will  grow  more  hard  and  doubt- 
ful. You  have  much  to  do,  and  therefore  put 
not  all  ofl'to  the  last,  lest  God  forsake  vou, 
and  give  you  up  to  yourselves,  and  then 
you  are  undone  for  ever. 

Direction  IX. — If  you  will  turn  and  live, 
do  it  unrcscrvcdlv,  absolutclv,  and  univcr- 

B.  C;ill  19 


218  A     CALL    TO  (Doct.  7 

sally.  Think  not  to  capitulate  with  Christ, 
and  divide  your  heart  between  him  and  the 
world ;  and  to  part  with  some  sins  and  keep 
the  rest ;  and  to  let  that  go  which  your  flesh 
can  spare.  This  is  but  self-deluding  ;  you 
must  in  heart  and  resolution  forsake  all  that 
3^ou  have,  or  else  you  cannot  be  his  dis- 
ciples. Luke,  14  :  26,  33.  If  j^ou  will  not 
take  God  and  heaven  for  j^our  portion,  and 
lay  all  below  at  the  feet  of  Christ,  but  j^ou 
must  needs  also  have  your  good  things  here, 
and  have  an  earthly  portion,  and  God  and 
glory  are  not  enough  for  3^ou,  it  is  vain  to 
dream  of  salvation  on  these  terms  ;  for  it 
will  not  be.  If  you  seem  ever  so  religious, 
if  yet  it  be  but  a  carnal  righteousness,  and 
if  the  flesh's  prosperity,  or  pleasure,  or  safe- 
ty, be  still  excepted  in  your  devotedness  to 
God,  this  is  as  certain  a  way  to  death  as 
open  profaneness,  though  it  be  more  plausible. 

Direction  X. — If  you  will  turn  and  live, 
do  it  resolvedly,  and  stand  not  still  delibe- 
ratins:,  as  if  it  were  a  doubtful  case.  Stand 
not  wavering,  as  if  you  were  uncertain 
whether  God  or  the  flesh  be  the  better  mas- 
ter, or  whether  sin  or  holiness  be  tlie  better 


Doct.  7.)  THE    UNCONVERTED.  219 

way,  or  whether  heaven  or  hell  be  the  better 
end.  But  away  with  your  former  lusts,  and 
j^resently,  habitually,  fixedly  resolve.  Be 
not  one  da}^  of  one  mind  and  the  next  day 
of  another ;  but  be  at  a  point  with  all  the 
world,  and  resolvedly  give  up  3'ourselve3 
and  all  you  have  to  God.  Now,  while  3^ou 
are  reading,  or  hearing  this,  resolve  ;  before 
you  sleep  another  night,  resolve  ;  before  3"ou 
^tir  from  the  place,  resolve ;  before  Satan 
have  time  to  take  you  off,  resolve.  You  will 
never  turn  indeed  till  you  do  resolve,  and 
that  with  a  firm  unchangeable  resolution. 


And  now  I  have  done  my  part  in  this 
work,  that  you  may  turn  at  the  call  of  God 
and  live.  What  will  become  of  it  I  cannot 
tell.  I  have  cast  the  seed  at  God's  com- 
mand ;  but  it  is  not  in  my  power  to  give  lue 
increase.  I  can  go  no  further  with  my  mes- 
sage ;  I  cannot  bring  it  to  your  heart,  nor 
make  it  work;  I  cannot  do  your  part  for 
you,  which  is  to  entertain  it  and  consider  it ; 
nor  can  I  do  God's  part,  by  opening  vour 
heart  to  cause  you  to  entertain  it;  nor  can 
I  show  heaven   or  hell  to  vour  sii^ht,  nor 


220  A    CALL    TO    THE    UNCOWEKTED.         (Doct.  7, 

give  you  new  and  tender  hearts.  If  I  loiew 
what  more  to  do  for  ^^our  conversion,  I  hope 
I  should  do  it. 

But  O  thou  that  art  the  gracious  Father 
of  spirits,  thou  hast  sworn  thou  dehghtest 
not  in  the  death  of  the  wicked,  but  rather 
that  thev  turn  and  hve  ;  denv  not  thv  bless- 
ing  to  these  persuasions  and  directions,  and 
suffer  not  thine  enemies  to  triumph  in  thy 
sight,  and  the  great  deceiver  of  souls  to  pre- 
vail against  thy  Son,  thy  Spirit,  and  tliy 
Word!  O  pit}?-  poor  unconverted  sinners, 
that  have  no  hearts  to  pity  or  help  them- 
selves !  Command  the  blind  to  see,  and  the 
deaf  to  hear,  and  the  dead  to  live,  and  let 
not  sin  and  death  be  able  to  resist  thee. 
Awaken  the  secure,  resolve  the  unresolved, 
confirm  the  wavering;  and  let  the  eyes  of 
sinners,  that  read  these  lines,  be  next  em- 
plo3^ed  in  weeping  over  their  sins,  and  bring 
them  to  themselves,  and  to  thy  Son,  before 
their  sins  have  brought  them  to  perdition. 
If  tliou  say  but  the  word,  these  poor  endea- 
vors shall  prosper  to  the  winning  of  many  a 
soul  to  their  everlasting  joy  and  thine  ever- 
lasting glory. — Amen. 

l-KE    END* 


X  .     53176 


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